The Complete Void Wraith Saga

by Chris Fox

  “I am in charge of this rabble,” the female Ganog said. She stepped from their ranks, towering over Burke even after shifting back to her smaller form. “My name is Bruth, of the Nyar Clan. Your companion identified you as Major Burke, and claims you are the leader of this vessel.”

  Burke shot Nolan an annoyed glance. “It’s technically true that this is my vessel, but we’ve been placed at Nolan’s disposal. He’s the one you’ll want to deal with. Before we do that, though, I’m going to need your people to pile their weapons up against the wall. I’m also going to need you to have everyone get back into whatever you call your regular-sized bodies.”

  “We keep our weapons.” It wasn’t a request. Bruth leaned closer to Burke. “I will order my warriors to resume their lesser forms, but make no mistake, little human. If you seek to do us harm, to imprison us, or to remove our weapons…I will kill you.”

  “We just saved your asses,” Burke snarled. He scowled up at Bruth. “I lost over a third of my unit out there, and, by God, you will treat me and mine with respect. Or you’ll find yourself walking.”

  “What Major Burke is trying to say,” Nolan interjected, hating that he had to be the diplomatic one, “is that we need to work together. If you want to keep your weapons, that’s fine. Major, would it be acceptable for the Nyar to take the area around those berths over there?”

  “Why not? The mechs we were storing there have been destroyed. There’s plenty of room, with a third of my pilots dead.”

  Burke turned on his heel and stalked away—not that Nolan could blame him. Losing men was hard under the best of circumstances.

  “It is only because you have done us a great service that I do not separate your head from your shoulders,” Bruth said, matter-of-factly. She stared disdainfully down at Nolan, her fur taking on a sickening green tint. “My people have lost much this day, and we long for vengeance. Do not test our patience, for my people seek a target for their anger.”

  “I get that.” Nolan turned to scan the hangar, noting two things. Hannan and Annie were still in their mechs, still ready to fight. Nuchik had just arrived too, and had left her mech idling. “Kokar, get over here.”

  The Ganog was still standing by the wall, as if trying to avoid Bruth’s notice. At the sound of his name he reluctantly strode over. Hruk followed him like an ever-present shadow.

  “Listen,” Nolan began, once Kokar had joined them. “I don’t really understand your political structure. I’m not sure who’s in charge. I’ll let you sort that out. When you can tell me who that is, great. I need to speak to that person about a formal alliance with the Coalition. Your people are in desperate need of allies, and I think we all know it.”

  Kokar’s fur went a watery yellow, but he flared his nostrils and it settled into a deep brown. “Bruth, you know you are the only one left whom most will follow. You must assume command.”

  Bruth seemed more than a little surprised, eyeing Kokar warily. “I agree. It’s that simple then? No challenge? No arguments for your cause?”

  “I have no real support in either the warrior or leadership caste. Our titles aren’t hereditary, and everyone knows my father hated me anyway.”

  Hruk started to speak, but Kokar waved him to silence.

  “There’s no chance I can command,” he said, “so for the good of our people I will lend whatever weight my word carries to your cause.”

  Hruk snarled. “You gained respect when you defied your father, especially in light of the fact that you were right.” He stepped up next to Kokar, glaring at Bruth. “Kokar may support you, but do not forget his lineage or his deeds this day. You owe him your life. All of you do. Kokar secured the allies that allowed you to survive the execution wrought by Grak.”

  “Lingering respect allows me to ignore your tone,” Bruth snarled back, “but learn to curb your tongue.” She flexed powerful shoulders, making it clear that she could easily snap his neck. “I will accord Kokar the honor he has earned, and it is true that he earned much of it. I am honored by his support, and will see that he serves among the leadership caste.” She turned to Nolan. “Since I now speak for the Nyar, you may deal with me, Captain. You said we needed an alliance, and you are correct. What do you propose, exactly?”

  Nolan had already considered how to approach this moment, so he made his argument simple. “We keep your leadership caste alive, and evacuate as many survivors as possible to the world of your choosing. As you’re no doubt aware, the Demetrius can cloak, and we’ve installed a warp drive. With the warp anchor gone, we can leave whenever. If there are no additional survivors, we could depart right now. Once we’re free, you send a delegation to meet with my government. The alliance can be formalized there, but the gist is this: We help you in the war against Utfa and the Kthul, and when that war is over you leave my people in peace.”

  “That last part is nothing. We would never leave our space to conquer inferior species. We exist to shield our kind from the Nameless Ones, and will be here until that is accomplished. However, honor dictates that we defend this world. If we abandon Nyar, we abandon our history. Our people will lose hope, and this war will be over before it has fully begun. No, we will not be leaving. If you wish to stay and help us retake our world, then so be it. We welcome the aid.”

  Nolan’s mouth worked, and he fought for words. They weren’t willing to leave, but what the hell could he do to help them retake this world? It was an impossible task.

  Yet what choice did he have? His orders were clear: Secure the Nyar alliance, at any cost.

  “We’ll stay,” he said, “as allies. Rest up. We’ll need time to repair our mechs. After that, we’ll see what we can do to help.”

  “Very well. We will mend our wounds and prepare ourselves for the next battle.” Bruth turned without a word, heading for the area of the hangar that had been allocated for them.

  Nolan sighed. Someday, they’d give him an easy mission.

  32

  Longshot

  Nolan ducked into the conference room, noting that he was the last to arrive. He hated that, but there’d simply been too many things to deal with before he got there.

  Kokar and Hruk sat on one side of the table. Burke sat on the other, in clear opposition. Both groups eyed each other like cats dumped together in a room, and Nolan knew this would be an uphill battle. He moved to Burke’s side, sliding into a chair next to the major.

  “Welcome, Captain,” Kokar rumbled, nodding respectfully. “We can begin, then.”

  “Before we begin, I wanted to apologize for earlier,” Burke said, running his fingers through his hair while avoiding eye contact. He looked up suddenly, meeting Kokar’s gaze. “I lost people today. It’s only the second time since I took command of Alpha Company. I let it affect my professionalism, and you have my apologies.”

  “Too little, too late, if you ask me,” Hruk said.

  “I did not ask you,” Kokar snapped. His eyes never left Burke. “I understand completely, Major. I lost people on Imperalis. Friends. Brothers. It…unhinged me for a time.” His fur darkened.

  “We’ve all been there, in this war or another,” Nolan said. “It’s water under the bridge, gentlemen. We’re friends here. More than that, we’re allies. We want the same thing. Does anyone at this table think that we’re going to get it by having Bruth in charge?”

  “She’s going to get everyone killed,” Burke said, shaking his head. “The Nyar can’t stay on this world. That’s suicide. Even if they muster enough of a force to take on the garrison, the Kthul will just call an Omega or two back here.”

  “True, but what would you suggest?” Kokar growled, his nails digging into the table. His frustration was clear, though it didn’t seem to be directed at any of them.

  “Hruk,” Nolan said, meeting the wizened Ganog’s gaze. “You’re a historian of sorts, right?”

  “I am.” Hruk’s tone was suspicious, but his eyes were curious.

  “Nyar’s tomb is an Omega. There’s no mistaking
it. That means that, at one time, your people used Omegas in war. How much do you know about that time?”

  “I know the legends, but we have no way of knowing how true they are.” Hruk stroked the fur on his chin, considering. “The only story that mentions the first planetstrider are those of Nyar’s final battle, in this very city. We know little of use, I’m afraid.”

  “All right,” Nolan said, more than a little frustrated at the historian’s lack of…well, history. “But at the very least, Nyar’s Tomb is holy, right?”

  Hruk looked affronted at the question. “It is our most holy site.”

  “So if the son of a former clan leader showed up piloting the tomb, that would probably give him a lot of influence in the clan, right? Say…enough to be declared Clan Leader himself?”

  “I see where you are going with this,” Kokar said, eyeing Nolan dubiously. “Even if we could resurrect this Omega, I do not think the clan would follow me.”

  “You may be mistaken, lad.” Hruk gave a seated, and very deferential, bow. “If you led them into battle using Nyar’s war machine, they would follow you into the maw of a Nameless One. Nyar would flock to your cause—not just here, but everywhere.”

  Kokar looked decidedly uncomfortable at the prospect, his fur rippling between runny green and washed-out blue. Finally, he looked up. “I do not think I will make an able leader, but Bruth is blind to the danger that staying here presents. I will do whatever I must to lead my people to safety.”

  “Are we in agreement then?” Nolan asked, looking around the table.

  “I’d much rather have Kokar in charge than that brute,” Burke said. He turned to Nolan. “Do you really think you can get that Omega operational? It’s been sitting out there for millennia, right? From the little I saw when we passed by, it’s got trees growing out of its joints. Who knows what parts are corroded?”

  “We won’t know until we take a look. It’s possible this is a fool’s errand, and if the Omega can’t be fixed, I’m willing to admit the mission is a failure and pull out,” Nolan offered. He turned to Kokar. “Will anyone try to stop us from going to Nyar’s Tomb? I know you said it was a holy site.”

  “Any warrior or leader may make pilgrimage,” Hruk mused. “I doubt they will attempt to bar our passage. Is it really possible that you might be able to resurrect Nyar’s war machine?”

  “Possibly. I’ll let the rest of the squad know we’re moving out. Annie is good with repair and improvisation. We’ll have her do an assessment.” Nolan rose to his feet. “How does two hours sound?”

  “Works for me.” Burke rose to his feet as well. “Just enough time for a shower and a meal.”

  “Indeed,” Kokar agreed. “I will tend to my own dinner, then stand ready to lead you to Nyar’s Tomb.”

  33

  We Have the Technology

  Nolan’s mech lumbered around the corner of an overgrown building, where the stone disappeared amidst the foliage. Before him stood the Omega that Nuchik had originally spotted. Its sleek metal frame towered over most of the surrounding buildings, though one or two were taller. He guessed it stood around 6,000 meters—taller than most planetstriders.

  Dense, green vines grew through its joints, overlaying the blue-and-chrome armor with a riot of green. Three concentric rings stood around the Omega, much like a scaffold would be used with an orbital launch back home. Perhaps that supplied it with power?

  “Kokar,” Nolan asked over the comm, “why do the Nyar wear black armor if your founder used a blue war machine?”

  Kokar paused a few dozen meters away, staring up at the Omega. “An excellent question, and one I have never considered. Hruk?”

  “I do not know. It is said we wear armor to hide us in the void, but I do not know when the tradition began, or why.”

  Nolan guided his mech closer, noting on his mini-map that the squad was moving a little way behind. “Hannan, you and Nuchik stay out here and keep an eye on things. I’m going to go inside with Kokar. Annie, we’ll bring you to assess the Omega’s technical situation.”

  Kokar started trotting toward the Omega, moving to the structure behind it instead of the mech itself. He paused next to a shadowed doorway leading inside. Nolan ran his mech over, then triggered the eject sequence.

  He dropped from the cockpit, trotting over to Kokar. The Ganog had already returned to his lesser form and was moving into the building. Nolan followed, his hand resting on his sidearm. The interior was dimly lit, and a series of wide stairs led upward.

  “Is there an elevator of some sort?” Nolan asked, remembering how tall the building was.

  “I’m afraid not. We run.” Kokar began trotting up the stairs, and Hruk hobbled after him.

  Nolan waited for Annie to finish disembarking from her mech. She trotted over, spitting a gob of black into a cluster of plants. “Hope you’re okay with a bit of a climb.”

  “They don’t have any beer on this world. Now you want me to exercise? I should’ve stayed with Bock.” Annie laughed, then started up the stairs. “I ain’t as fast as you, so you feel free to run on ahead with Kokar. I’ll be along eventually.”

  Nolan patted her shoulder as he passed, then trotted up the stairs after Kokar. This was going to take a while. He was in good shape, but there were a lot of stairs. Within a few flights, he’d broken into a thin sheen of sweat; by the time he’d passed the first twenty, his breathing was ragged. By thirty there was a stitch in his side, and by fifty he knew he wasn’t in as good a shape as he thought he was.

  Nearly an hour passed before he finally reached the top—almost a thousand stories, if his count was accurate. Nolan grabbed the top of the stairwell, leaning hard against it as he sucked in deep breaths. Sweat poured off him, splattering the metal floor.

  “It took you long enough. I’ve been here for ages.” Kokar clapped Nolan on the shoulder. “It is a difficult climb, but worth it. Come see what I have seen.”

  Kokar led Nolan across a narrow U-shaped chamber filled with rows of consoles. On the far side, a two-meter-wide bridge of blue energy extended to the back of the Omega’s head. The wind howled outside, rocking the Omega gently.

  “I guess we may as well get on with this,” Nolan prompted, giving Kokar the chance to be first.

  Kokar hesitated, so Nolan plunged boldly down the glowing ramp. It felt solid under his feet, as much as any deck on any vessel. But there were no handholds, and this high up there was a stiff wind. Nolan kept his legs bent, hurrying toward the Omega. A sudden gust knocked him to the side, and his arms windmilled.

  Kokar’s hand seized his shoulder, steadying him. “We are nearly there.”

  Nolan nodded quickly, unable to speak past the sudden dryness in his mouth. He almost ran the last ten steps, finally bracing himself against the back of the Omega’s head. Looking around, he saw no means of entry—no doorway or keypad.

  “Any idea how we get inside?” he called over the howling wind.

  “I do not know, not precisely,” Kokar called back. “No one has made a pilgrimage here in generations. But the legends say that if we call out to Nyar, he will be there in our time of need.”

  “Worth a shot, right?” Nolan asked. He chuckled, then cupped his hands around his mouth. “Hey Nyar, we need your help.”

  A thin crack appeared in the back of the mech’s head, slowly widening into a narrow passage. Possibly even too narrow for a Ganog. “This can’t have been designed for your people. It’s almost like…they designed it for Primo. The ancient Primo.”

  “The who?” Kokar called over the wind.

  “It’s not important, not yet. Let’s try to get inside.” Nolan gestured at the passage. This was a holy place for Kokar’s people; he should enter first.

  Kokar squeezed his bulk into the narrow tunnel, his armor scraping audibly along the walls as they pushed their way inside the head. Crossing the fifty meters underscored both how thick this thing’s armor was, and how large the Omegas truly were.

  They finally emerg
ed into what Nolan thought must be a nerve center for the Omega. Five sleek chairs of the same blue metal he had come to expect from the Void Wraith sat arrayed in a perfect circle. Floating in the center, bobbing up and down lazily, was a blue cube traced with glowing, white circuitry.

  “I should have known.” Nolan shook his head slowly, then walked to stand next to the cube.

  “Clearly you recognize this place.” Kokar picked a path around the chairs to approach the cube from the opposite side. “What revelation have you had?”

  “This Omega was constructed by the same hands that made the Void Wraith. We already knew that, but seeing it is a whole other level of confirmation. It also raises some troubling questions about the origins of both the Void Wraith and the Ganog.” Nolan turned his attention to the chairs. “The chairs face away from the cube, and each has these prongs on the back.”

  “What do you think they do?” Kokar mused, inspecting another chair.

  Nolan bent to inspect one. “I’d guess they plug into the spinal column. Interface with the nervous system.”

  Annie staggered into the room, panting. She dropped her pack by the door and wiped sweat from her face. “That bridge about made me wet myself. Pity the Ganog ain’t discovered railings yet. Would probably cut down on falling deaths.”

  “You are a techsmith, yes?” Kokar asked Annie.

  Annie said, shrugged. “Uh, sure.”

  “Can you repair this titan?” Kokar folded his arms, looking at Annie with the kind of contempt most Ganog reserved for ka’tok.

  “How the hell do I know?” Annie snapped. “I ain’t even looked around. Tell you what, fuzzball. You give me an hour to figure out how this thing works, and I’ll let you know what I think.”

  “Annie, would it help if I asked Burke for techs?” Nolan asked. “They’ll probably speed any repairs. This thing is massive.”