Machine Planet (Conquest of Stars Book 4)

by Sid Kar

  “Admiral Valorun,” a tall, slender man dressed in dark blue clothes, holding a glass of blue liquid, said from the far side of the room.

  “Morvulan Loyyan,” Valorun walked towards him, “We have met before.”

  “How can it be otherwise, I just wish you had given me an advance warning, my guards are jittery,” Morvulan said and poured another drink of blue liquid and handed it to Valorun who was hesitant to drink it till Morvulan took a gulp. “Finest liquor of Joy Corporatex. Don’t worry, it is not addictive, we don’t sell those to our own people.”

  “We only addict the aliens,” Valorun remarked.

  “That’s right, that’s the meat of our Empire’s trade surplus,” Morvulan said pointing to the sofa and both of them sat down opposite from each other, “Congratulations on the great victory. Did you know that I had pushed to bring you back from your retirement?”

  “No I didn’t, although I had heard rumors,” Valorun said.

  “I know your opinion and you don’t like our chemical industry, but I am not a fool unlike a few other chemical bosses,” Morvulan said, “You can win us the war. You are my equivalent, just in a different field. I am the grandmaster of chemicals and you are the grandmaster of space warfare. But you didn’t leave the war in the middle to come chat with me about the chemicals.”

  “Actually I did,” Valorun said and finished his drink with one big gulp, “I want you to back me up in a proposal I will be putting forth before the Emperor in a couple of days.”

  “And why would I do that?” Morvulan asked and leaned back on the sofa.

  Valorun was not surprised at such an arrogant and rude answer. Morvulan was the richest man in the Mercurian Empire, was the boss of the Empire’s biggest corporatex, the official leader of the chemical cartel and he purchased the largest number of seats in Corporatstad, the lawmaking body of the Empire. He could have admirals dismissed like his own managers and only the Emperor was truly his equal in power. Valorun could stand equal to him only because of his stature as an imperial war hero.

  “Because you are a man of commerce, you deal in negotiations, not in absolutes,” Valorun had carefully chosen his words, “You won’t gamble your entire fortune for the glory of your Joy Corporatex. But the Navy is different. Honor and Glory mean a lot more to admirals and sailors, generals and soldiers than they do to traders and merchants. Am I right?”

  “Completely,” Morvulan smiled, “And I am surprised that you are speaking our language. But why?”

  “I want to negotiate terms of peace with Starfirians, and I don’t want the Admiralstad to force me to go for the jugular, a shot at total victory that could upturn into a setback of total defeat,” Valorun said.

  “I would not even deem to opine about battlespace tactics,” Morvulan waved his hands sideways in reluctance.

  “It is grand strategy and galactic politics I am talking about,” Valorun said, “I won’t settle for anything less than Starfirians allowing us to sell our chemicals in Nestorian Republic, all space around it, in spacefaring civilizations hitherto unknown to us but near Starfirian Empire, and even in their protectorates. And I will get them to permanently forbid the export of these alleged micro-machines they possess that can eject all addictive chemicals from a body and restore it to the pre-addiction pristine state.”

  “Wow,” Morvulan let out a sigh, “you are giving me nearly the whole platter, but why not defeat them completely and force them to accept our chemicals in their own empire and destroy these dangerous micro-machines forever along with it.”

  “Would you ever make an investment that if it went wrong meant certain bankruptcy and firesale liquidation of Joy Corporatex?” Valorun asked.

  “Absolutely never,” Morvulan said, “Joy Corporatex is not just my family’s, but entire Mercurian Empire’s pride and has been for over a thousand years. The Joy family of chemical compounds contribute the largest portion to our trade surplus and our imperial taxes. And they give great joy to a multitude of aliens across thousands of planets. A Drop of Joy makes you forget all your suffering and misery and instead revel in the pleasures that you didn’t know your mind was capable of feeling. Our chemicals unlock the states of mind that its users did not even know they possessed.”

  “I feel the same about Mercurian Navy and Mercurian Empire,” Valorun said.

  “Can it happen to us in the war?” Morvulan asked leaning forward.

  “Starfirians supposedly have a Starfleet with well over a thousand starships, they call it Starfleet Majestic,” Valorun said, “We have used up the element of surprise and a punch for punch fight between my fleet and Majestic could go either way. But if we lost and the space distance back is vast and if there is a rout we may lose our entire fleet.”

  “No, we can’t allow that,” Morvulan said, “In business we do not have victories and defeats. We have profits and losses and they exist on a gradient. I won’t risk my entire business just to move up the profit gradient. Your terms are acceptable to me and are sufficiently profitable for other Corporatex bosses too.”

  “Then I can count on your support,” Valorun said and stood up.

  “Give me a couple days and I will have Corporatstad in your corner,” Morvulan replied getting up and showing Valorun the door. Valorun walked out and from his smile, Lewyn and his soldiers waiting outside knew that their grand admiral had accomplished his mission.

  Chapter 10: War Pact

  Starship Conquistador was allowed to proceed into the interior space of the Karxian Empire but not without an armed escort of no less than twelve heavily armed Blackships as the Karxian capital spaceships were called reflecting the all black exterior hull of its spaceships and its military uniform. But when Conquistador reached the outer perimeter space of the Karxian central planets it was stopped and Commodore Raptor had to proceed further abroad a Karxian vessel. Accompanying Raptor were VC Barryett, Col. Tollvyk, SPASI Detective Rockvyk, Law Officer Legtar and Detective Hartar. Usually the Vice-Commodore would have stayed back on their own starship but Barryett had cultivated friendships with a few officers of Karxian Blackfleet and his presence was considered beneficial to their mission.

  Karxian Empire was the second of the two empires of the Aurum race and along with the Starfire Empire had originated thousands of years ago from the eponymous nations of the home planet Aurum. It was located in the adjacent space from the Starfirian space but had spread out in the galaxy in the other direction.

  The vessel carrying the Starfirian officers landed at a military spaceport on planet Karxfort which was the Karxian capital world and had a resident population of over 10 billion people, the largest in their Empire. From the spaceport, the officers were escorted under armed guard to the Karxian state assembly where today had assembled not the Karxian lawmakers but representatives of major and minor Aurum nations. Some were permanent representatives of their governments posted to Karxfort; others had been rushed when Commodore Raptor had called for a grand pact meeting. They were all already seated in the large chamber with black carpets and black sofa seats along with a few different military officers congregating around a three-dimensional space map holographically projected in the air in the front-center of the chamber.

  The first man to speak was the Karxian Empire’s head of state: Duke Montax Varax and when he stood up all the side conversations died down. The Starfirians for their part went and stood alongside the other military officers and faced the representatives.

  “Commodore Raptor is the commander of Starship Conquistador, an amazing war machine and he is a hero amongst his people,” Duke Montax said, “When I received an urgent message from him invoking the Aurum Pact, I was befuddled as that is a request that can officially be made only by a state representative or a Starfleet commander. I am sure he will rise to become a commander one day,” Montax turned and smiled at Raptor, “But I am intrigued at his reason and I will let him speak further.”

  “Thank you Duke Montax,” Commodore Raptor said. He felt slightly hes
itant at speaking in front of the political leaders and uncertain about the prospects but he was ready. “State leaders and representatives and officers, I came myself because I was the closest and we are short on time. The Mercurian Empire is like no other enemy we have faced. It has decimated one of our core fleets that was augmented with interior fleets and starships from other core fleets. Our capital must be in chaos and our military leaders must be scrambling to get a grip on these facts.” Raptor had no idea what was going on there, but his audience would have even less of a clue, that he knew. “Thus, I had to come to appeal to you.”

  “Fine, Commodore Raptor,” the representative of Nar Mercantile Cartels Kranar Tor stood up, “we accept you as the representative of your Empire but where is your Starfleet Majestic? Why doesn’t your Supreme Commander and House of War dispatch it to dispatch these…Mercurians back to where they came from? Certainly, none of us here, not even Karxian Empire can give you a fleet that can match your Starfleet Majestic’s strength.”

  Raptor had anticipated this question the most and prepared for it too.

  “I don’t know what my commanders are planning for Starfleet Majestic, perhaps it is on its way to Rainmar even as we speak or perhaps they are holding it back to protect the Capital and the starship yards,” Raptor said, “but I do know we can’t win this war alone.”

  Raptor stopped and let the significance of these words sink in. The representatives knew that Raptor was serious because Starfirians rarely acknowledged a need for help in combat and justifiably because they had rarely required it.

  “For thousands of years Starfire Empire has been the protector of Aurums. ‘O Starfirians, why do you stand idle?’, these are the exact words spoken to us by many of your representatives in the past when seeking our help,” Raptor spoke again, “Our ancient heroes like Colonel Raptor and Colonel Sthykar earned their first victories and glories helping nations like Karaln and Lodam, both of whose representatives sit here today. Thousands of years later, we helped your Karxian Empire,” Raptor looked at Duke of Karx, “Commodore Antrar and Starfirian spaceships fought along with your Blackfleet, and VC Barryett was there too, in a skirmish or two,” Raptor pointed to Barryett standing next to him. “Now give us a combined Fleet of your starships. We can hit Mercurians with a Pincer Attack catching them between Starfleet Majestic and an Aurum Pact Fleet.”

  “We do not deny Starfire Empire’s protection and are grateful when it is given,” Botto Futto, the representative of Federation of Otto Systems, rose up to speak, “But Starfire Empire has not joined in our wars against aliens a great many number of times either. Indeed, it was you Starfirians who insisted on a very limited Pact Terms. You declared that your starships will only enter war if an alien civilization seeks enslavement or extermination on large scale of Aurum civilians. Otherwise, you always intended to and do stay out of most of our wars.”

  Raptor knew that was correct and also that it was how it should have been. The smaller and middling Aurum nations would otherwise perpetually pick fights with alien civilizations and attempt unrestrained expansion if they could count on Starfire Empire to intervene on their behalf. Starfirians couldn’t bog down into petty conflicts started by petty folks. That is what Raptor would have liked to say but instead he chose to speak these words, “I accept we have made mistakes in the past but we have also done right by you many times. A big brother sometimes allows his little brothers to fight on their own because he wants them to learn to fight, to get tougher and stronger. We have wanted you to get stronger on your own. But this time it is different. The Mercurian Empire can roll us all up one by one. We do not know its intentions. If Starfire Empire falls and then Mercurians reveal their desire to enslave or exterminate us Aurums, it will be too late. You can’t take that chance, not when survival of yourself, your families and nations are at stake.

  O Aurums, why do you stand idle. Fight with us!”

  Raptor received a standing ovation from a few representatives, derisive head shakes from a few others and blank stares from the most. But amongst those clapping were the Karxian military men and he was heartened by that. Karxian Blackfleet was the single most important piece on the chess board right now.

  “I will request a vote to invoke or reject the Aurum Pact,” Duke Montax Varax said and then added, “Mind you, Commodore Raptor, even if your request is turned down, we are free to come to your aid on our own.”

  The voting began one representative at a time and the vote was very close. Indeed, it was a tie just before Duke Montax was to vote on behalf of Karxian Empire. He looked at his army officers and called out to Blackfleet Commander Rohanx Purx, “Are we ready for war, Commander?”

  “Yes Duke, Blackfleet is on high alert and awaiting my call for full mobilization,” Commander Rohanx replied.

  “We have had our difference with Starfirians,” Duke Montax said, “We have even fought them in the past. But we have fought each other in the past too. We can’t let the strongest of Aurum nation fall and expect to do well in a hostile galaxy and who knows what dangers lie beyond in the unimaginably vast expanse of space. Starfirians fearlessly fight everyone and we must fight with them. Invoke the Aurum Pact.”

  Commodore Raptor, VC Barryett and other Starfirian officers looked at each other with great relief and smiles verging on tears. Many representatives cheered. Some who had voted against were disheartened, but they would not pull out of the Pact. To do so, would mean they could count on no future support for themselves.

  “And on behalf of the whole Duchy of Karx, I declare war on Mercurian Empire,” Duke Montax thundered to a sudden loud applause from his officers.

  Chapter 11: A Plan of Attack

  Admiral Valorun and Megaship Maverick docked in the orbit of Mercuris Majoris, the Capital Planet of Mercurian Empire with a population exceeding 25 billion people, by far the largest in the Empire. It was a planet of primarily blue hue mixed with multiple large splotches of light green. Mercury was the primary element of the planet with large seas of Mercury but there was also frozen Mercury ice and vapors of Mercury in different latitudes. The Empire had covered the planet with a large number of triangular tall buildings that rose up above the atmosphere. They were shaped like cones and pyramids and from a distance resembled tall structures of ice due to the construction material used on their exterior.

  Admiral Valorun was escorted down to the planet in a spaceship of Emperor’s Corps, the special division of naval troops responsible for the Emperor’s protection. They flew him to the large, cobalt blue palace with arches and domes of gold, the seat of the Mercurian Emperor that had been built over a thousand years ago. The palace occupied over a square mile of land and the gardens and grounds surrounding the palace stretched out in all direction for at least fifty miles. Emperor’s palace was a secluded region away from the tall, vertical buildup of the rest of the planet and there were no other buildings in sight.

  The spaceship landed down in the vast, spacious courtyard in the interior of the palace. Valorun had been here many times and knew his way. He walked down the courtyard and up the steps flanked by soldiers standing on either side. The Palace required over ten thousand workers for its upkeep but its vastness meant that most were not visible to a visitor. Valorun only saw an occasional soldier on guard duty as he made his way down to the imperial hall. The soldiers outside the gold covered gate let him inside and he walked down the carpet all the way to the end. The hall was vast and could hold over a thousand people simultaneously.

  At the other end was an elevated throne on which was seated the current Emperor Sorkanan Hotal. As Valorun walked down the hall, the Emperor got up from his throne and walked down the steps and greeted Valorun by embracing his shoulders with both of his hands.

  “Grand Admiral, I do not have any more titles and awards to reward you that haven’t already been bestowed upon you,” Emperor said with a laughter.

  “Empire’s service is all the reward I care for at my age,” Valorun nodded his head. He turned
around to greet the four High Admirals of Admiralstad – Admirals Rolutan Nall, Albone Xul, Flybar Url and Halan Ralt – who were standing to his right and the four Corporators of Corporatstad – Wolan Kaarl, Solum Bol, Token Myl and Notol Ol – who were standing to his left. The rest of the vast hall was completely empty.

  “It is good to see you Valorun,” Emperor said, “I believe you have come to us with a plan to seal our victory and on terms beneficial to us.”

  “I have,” Valorun said then walked back a little so he could face all nine of them. “I want to lay before them terms of negotiation that will end the war in our favor in exchange for securing the future of our chemical exports across the galaxy.”

  “But why Admiral Valorun?” Admiral Halan asked, “Why negotiate when we can dictate them the terms after we seize their Capital and force the rest of the Starfire Empire to comply with our wishes?”

  “Because I will not be attacking the Starfire capital system,” Valorun spoke matter of factly and the legs of the four high admirals gave out from under them upon hearing these words.

  “You can’t allow a great victory to slip out from our hands,” Admiral Rolutan said.

  “I haven’t faced their main fleet and this time they will know we are coming and be prepared accordingly,” Valorun said, “I believe we started the war to secure profits of our Chemical Corporatexes,” he looked at the four Corporators who all nodded in agreement, “They will be secured with the terms I proposed and even increased greatly. But if we lose a large number of spaceships, we will also have to impose additional taxes on Corporatex profits to build replacements.”

  Admiral Halan opened his mouth to speak when Corporator Wolan jumped in. He was the leader of the chemical cartel faction in Corporatstad and thus the most powerful lawmaker in Mercurian Empire.