Tom O’Brien did the honors, starting with Stven.
“I see you’re injured, Captain,” Trexler said to Stven. “What happened?”
“Uh, just a bad landing, sir. I’m better at flying ships.”
O’Brien coughed into his fist. “He forgot to mention that he had his claws sunk into a gleason at the time, Admiral.”
“Gleasons!” Buskin exclaimed in alarm. “They’re using gleasons now?” A moment later, said with true amazement: “You took on a gleason?”
Trexler and Godfries exchanged glances, then Trexler addressed Krys. “We have some time before the regular crew recovers from the scree. I for one would like to hear your story, and it would be appropriate for you to hear ours, as well.”
The rest of the story came out, the entire story at Trexler’s insistence. His admirals needed to know and trust this young woman in whom the Queen held so much trust, and so did he. She remained silent as Stven, Borg, Washburn, and O’Brien told various parts of the story, beginning with Ellie pulling her from the orphanage on Hespra III. He stared at her with some incredulity as he envisioned this blind sprite of a girl standing tall and firing a blaster amidst all the carnage in Korban’s sector headquarters, then transferring her Rider to Sir Tarn.
“You know, I had thought Mike’s story amazing, but I think yours is right up there with his, Krys.”
“Without the man of dirt, there would be no Empire, Ray.”
“Too true. Did you know I was involved in his escape from Earth?”
“I did not. You have heard our story. It’s time we heard yours.”
Trexler told his story, briefly, then focused on what was happening on Earth at the moment. Stuart Godfries had made great strides with his recruiting, and centers for modifying ships were running day and night. Earth would likely become the primary training ground for Terran crews and for Waverly’s recruits. Serious political implications still remained, and they were being addressed.
“You should expect to encounter Chessori with improved shields soon,” Krys said, bursting their bubble, though Trexler was not surprised. Struthers was not idle, not by any means, and upgrading the fighting abilities of Chessori ships was probably high on his list.
Trexler’s communicator buzzed. He listened for a moment, then said, “Put it on the display here, but keep him waiting a few minutes, and make sure I’m the only one in the pick-up. I don’t want him to know any more about us than he has to.”
He hung up and activated the screen at the opposite end of the room, saying, “You’re about to meet our adversary. Let me do the talking.”
The Chessori commander appeared on the screen, and though no outward evidence showed of his anger or fear, Trexler sensed both. “It has been two hours. I demand you release us.”
“Demand? Isn’t that a little strong?”
“I am K’tiri. You cannot hold me.”
“You’re a prisoner, K’tiri. I have nothing but contempt for you. Had you been a warrior, I would treat you with respect, but you’re no warrior. You’re a coward who attempted to decimate an emerging world.”
“I am K’tiri,” the Chessori said, clearly not understanding. “K’tiri are not treated in this manner. I have complied with your request and should be freed.”
“I don’t think you understand. After your actions here, all K’tiri are my enemy. I kill my enemies. Do not concern yourself with a quick release. Better you concern yourself with whether you will ever be released. Until I have convinced myself that the information you sent is complete, you will not leave.” He cut the connection.
“What information, Ray?” Krys asked.
“The plans for their interstellar communicator.” A puff escaped from Stven, and M’Sada began a refreshing preening from the other end of the room. “I won’t accept his surrender until I’m assured that the plans are what we need.”
“I have the plans aboard my ship, Admiral. We were taking them to Chandrajuski when we diverted to Orion III, then here.”
Trexler leaned back in his chair, staring at her in amazement. “Are you certain?”
“Yes. I would ask you to reconsider your demand of this Chessori. You are insisting on proving that the plans are true. Actually, it’s better if the plans are not true. The Chessori do not know that we have the system. Think about the possibilities that implies.”
Several pairs of admirals’ eyes stared back at her in awe. Yes, the possibilities were enormous. They might be able to listen in on Chessori and Rebel communications.
“May I ask how you got the plans?”
“Major Washburn and Borg put together an operation to steal a Chessori computer that held the plans. We are still attempting to decipher the plans, but my expert believes that they are, indeed, a full set of plans.”
“And they don’t know you have the computer?”
“Probably not. We destroyed the facility on our way out.”
Trexler’s eyes narrowed. “I thought your job was to carry a message?”
“I am a Knight of the Realm, Admiral, and together with my crew we are a sword for the Queen. We do what we must.”
“A sword. Hmm, I believe you’re right, My Lady. We’ll discuss this computer business later. For the moment, I need to figure out what to do with these Chessori. We can’t bring them to Earth, and we can’t let them stay. We can kill them, and it would be fitting, but I am uncomfortable with the idea. Any thoughts from any of you?”
Godfries spoke. “It’s customary to disarm prisoners before letting them go. We can’t do that either.”
Krys turned her head toward Stven. “Captain, you are a Rress, one of the most ancient and revered civilizations in the Empire. Your people guide the rest of us as we muddle through our daily crises. What do you say?”
Trexler raised a hand palm out to get their attention. “Before you answer, Captain, you should know that we believe not all the Chessori are bad.”
“Indeed? How do you know, sir?”
“It’s a long story. The short version is that Sir Val met with a crew of six Chessori traders. When they learned what was going on, they claimed they were affronted by the actions of these K’tiri. They have agreed to help us find a means to stop them.”
“They did?” He did?” Krys asked in surprise.
“He did. He’s off on another mission right now with Mike, Reba, and a Colonel Dace whom I don’t think you’ve met.”
“Yes!” Washburn blurted out, raising his fist.
“Actually, I have met him, but only briefly,” Krys responded. “What’s their mission?”
“I prefer it remain a secret for the moment.”
She frowned and turned back to Stven.
Stven stared at her, then his long neck swung slowly around until he faced Trexler. Light glinted from his purple scales, and the black, diamond-shaped pupils within his purple eyes contracted as he considered Trexler. Here was the admiral chosen to lead all of Earth’s space forces. He was the best Earth had to offer, but how knowledgeable was he of Empire history and policies? His gaze rested on Trexler for a long time as he considered, his large nostrils flaring and contracting with each breath. When he spoke, he spoke as a teacher.
“My crew has had some nasty brushes with the Chessori, sir, and I can never forgive their indiscriminate use of the scree. I will do my best to kill any Chessori using it. These Chessori deserve to die.”
His long neck shook as he cleared horrible memories from his immediate thoughts, then his gaze settled back on Trexler. “That said, sir, I would caution against such an action, caution strongly. The Queen will never condone it, nor will my people.” He paused, then added, “Nor will I. We hold to a higher calling. Throughout our long history, the Empire has always held to that higher calling. Even with the gleasons, we did not resort to genocide, and we could have. Instead, we blockaded their world and prevented their leaving. We have born that cost for some 2,000 years. There are many different beliefs among the stars. The Empire strives mightily to enco
mpass all of them. We sometimes lose sight of that purpose, but the Chosen and their Knights have never failed to remind us. They are what make the Empire work.”
Silence descended on the room, then Godfries rose to his feet, his gaze locked on Stven. He bowed to Stven, then placed his hands on the table and leaned toward him. “Captain, I’ve had a niggling doubt in the back of my mind ever since I heard of the Empire. I’ve wondered if I’d chosen the right side in all of this. Because of that doubt, I’ve focused on what’s best for Earth, and I know the Chessori are not best for Earth, so I’ve supported you.”
He stood up, still facing Stven. “That doubt is gone. The purpose of Empire is my purpose now. I, too, have held to a higher calling throughout my career. Your words please me, sir.”
Stven bowed back to him, then lifted his head high. “That is the philosophical side of it. As warriors, we must never forget those philosophies, but it is our job to temper them with reality. The reality as it relates to these Chessori, who are really prisoners, is two-fold. I would imagine that Earth hopes to join the Empire someday. Am I correct?”
Godfries sat down with a frown. “Not everyone on Earth is of that opinion, Captain. In many ways, we’re a lot like the Empire in miniature. We have many different beliefs on our world, and many of our people cannot accept the very concept of aliens.”
“There’s a reason you’re classified as an emerging world, sir. That might be one of them.”
“Well, we’re emerging whether we like it or not. You saw what almost happened here. Our very survival demands we emerge, but the process is sometimes ugly.”
“I hope you figure it out, sir. From the Empire’s point of view, if you massacre these Chessori, you might not be invited to join us. At the very least, it will be a major setback.”
Silence descended on the room again. Trexler broke it. “Massacre. A strong word, Captain.”
“But appropriate, sir.”
Trexler sighed, then nodded in defeat. “It is.” He turned and locked gazes with Godfries, the room silent as both of them considered Stven’s words, both of them looking for alternatives. There were none. Trexler turned back to Stven. “You said something about a second issue as it relates to our position as warriors?”
“I did, sir. You say that not all Chessori are bad, that some might even be helping us. Consider the cost to them. They’re turning against their own people.”
“They claim their actions will benefit the majority of their people in the long run. They have disowned these K’tiri.”
“And when word of this massacre leaks out, as such things always do? How will they feel then? What impression of our Empire will you send to the Chessori people?”
Trexler stared at him for a long time. “You speak wisely, Captain.”
“The Rress do not speak so much with wisdom as they speak from the heart.”
More silence, a long silence. “If we free them, we free them to return and fight us again. What say you to that, Captain?”
“I can’t fight them, sir, but you can. I say you fight them again, and you win again. Is the price so high?”
“The price of failure is the annihilation of my world, of my people. One single canister getting through might have been enough. One single Chessori ship getting through might have been enough. How high a price should we pay to hold to the high road?”
“I know how the Empire would answer that question, sir. I cannot say how an emerging world will answer it.”
Trexler frowned and turned to Krys. “What do you say, My Lady? You are the Queen’s representative here.”
She reached across the table toward Stven. He took her hands in one of his own, and she said, “As the Queen’s representative, I say I have been blessed with one fine captain. Thank you, Stven.”
She released his hand and turned to face Trexler, though she could not see him. “She speaks highly of you, Admiral, and in her eyes you have played a major part in winning two great battles . . . now, three great battles. I’m wondering . . . have you been invited into her Inner Circle?”
“Her Inner Circle is made up of Knights, Krys.”
“Usually, but not always. I was invited into her Circle before I was Knighted.” A puff escaped from Stven, but she ignored it. “Have you, sir?”
He nodded, then realized she could not see the nod. “I have.”
Another puff escaped from Stven. “Are you a Knight, Ray?” she asked softly.
“I am not. I turned her down.”
“Why?”
He turned to Godfries and Buskin who were both staring at him with wide eyes. “Earth is not ready for their senior commander to swear allegiance to the Empire. They might never be. Our people must know that I speak for Earth.”
“A Knight’s word is the Queen’s command on all worlds of the Empire,” Krys reminded him. “If you were a Knight, how would you speak? To what command would you bind her today?”
“That’s not an answer.”
“Then let me put it another way. To what command will you bind her?”
Trexler felt his face reddening as his blood pressure rose. Silence held the room for a long time.
Godfries leaned toward him and broke the silence. “To what command will you bind us, Ray?”
“I can’t report to two masters, Stu. There are a lot of people on the planet who wouldn’t hesitate to destroy these Chessori.”
“No one ever said it would be easy. And you’re wrong. You have three masters: the Queen, Earth, and us. By us, I mean the men of your command. There aren’t many men who can fill those shoes, but you can. What is your command, sir?”
Trexler closed his eyes. It wasn’t really a hard choice, his decision had been made long ago, but the repercussions of that decision might return to haunt him. In his mind he held a vision of Earth devoid of life, all the result of failure by him. One single Chessori ship could, potentially, sow the seeds of destruction over the whole planet. How could he speak for the teaming billions of people who would die? How could anyone?
In the end, it boiled down to what Stven had said. To kill the remaining Chessori out here would be, plain and simple, a massacre. It was wrong even if it was necessary. He would hold to the high road.
He opened his eyes to Godfries who was waiting. “Let them go,” he said.
Godfries’ lips thinned, and he nodded. “But not right away, eh?”
“No. Not right away. They’re getting away with all their weapons intact, but we’ll squeeze them for everything we can before they go. We’ll tell them we’re satisfied with the plans for the hypercom. Are you ready to carry the baton?”
“I’ll have to. You have bigger fish to fry.”
“I do. I need to get back to Chandrajuski.”
“Uh, that’s not what I meant, Ray. The President’s been hounding me. Actually, a number of national leaders have been hounding me. My ships left the planet in a hurry, and lots of people saw them. Every telescope on the planet has been focused on this battle, and some of them have seen a lot of detail. There are lots and lots of questions flying around the globe. The cat’s out of the bag, my friend. They need a response.”
“Then deal with it.”
“I would if I could, but I have ships to build and troops to train and battles to fight. I don’t have the time.”
Trexler retorted angrily, “I have an Empire to free.”
Godfries smacked his hand on the table. “I knew you’d say that. Not a chance, Ray. I’m a fighting man, not a politician. Besides, the planet needs to be addressed by our commander, and that’s you. You can’t pass the buck on this one.”
* * * * *
O’Brien stuck his head inside Akurea’s doorway, open as always. She was head’s down with two computers, a frown on her face.
“More problems?” he asked.
“Oh, hi! Come in. I’ve made a lot of headway, but it’s not all contiguous,” she said, pointing to the screens. The figures she pointed to held no meaning to O’Brien. “I’v
e run into some symbols that I can’t figure out, and neither can George. We’re going over them to see if we can work them backwards.”
“Backwards?”
“Well, if we know what’s supposed to come out of the circuit, and if we know what’s gone into it, we might be able to figure out how to manipulate what’s in between.”
“Ugh. Sounds complicated.”
“It is. Very. Are you inviting me to dinner?”
“Not at the moment. I’m a messenger. George will receive a Chessori file shortly. It’s supposed to be plans for the hypercom, sent from the Chessori fleet. Admiral Trexler has asked that you look at them and tell us if they’re the right files.”
“Who’s Admiral Trexler?”
“My boss.”
“Finally, someone you report to that outranks you.”
“He outranks me a lot. He’s in charge of all Terran forces.”
George’s voice filled the room. “The files are here, Akurea. Do you want me to send them to your computer?”
“Definitely not. I don’t want to take any chances of infecting what I have. Have you protected yourself?”
“I’ve isolated the file, and I have not opened it.”
“Good! Give me a few minutes.”
They borrowed a computer from an unoccupied room, and Tom carried it back for her. As she was hooking it up, she said, “So we’re in your home system. Are you getting any time off?”
“I have no idea. We seem to stay pretty busy around here.”
“Am I getting off?”
“Probably. Admiral Trexler will want to get you and these plans to somewhere that you can get them into development, and you need to see the Queen.”
“I’m not ready to leave. George has been a lot of help, and I don’t want to give him up. I’ll miss you, you know.”
His eyebrows rose. “Well, to be honest, I’ve been thinking about that. I’ve enjoyed our time together. If I get any time off here, maybe I can show you around.”
“I’d like that, and I could use a break. Is it a date?”
He hesitated. “Let’s see what happens. We don’t stay anywhere for long.”
Voice of the Chosen (Spirit of Empire, Book Three) Page 4