Bright Horizons

by Wilson Harp

  “An inertial shield,” Kyle said out loud while silently cursing Smith. When they had asked the Pelod if the Iltia’cor had any inertial shield technology, he had hesitated before he said no. He hesitated because he knew the Otina had developed it.

  Kyle took a grenade out from his satchel when Wills grabbed his leg. “No sir, you can’t. The prisoners are in stasis tubes in that room. Rolling a grenade in will kill the Otina, but it will kill them as well.”

  Two other of the wounded marines had made it back to the doorway with Kyle and Wills when he decided what he had to do.

  “How many are in there?” Kyle asked.

  “I counted six that made it past the door. Maybe a couple of more already in there,” said one of the marines.

  “You men cover that door. Turn your rifles to single and if they come out, pop them,” Kyle said. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. I’ll have the medics right behind me.”

  Kyle jumped up and ran back to the elevator. He signaled the engineers that he needed to come up and contacted Andrews. “Get my gear out of storage,” he simply ordered.

  A few minutes later he was running up the steps to the Hedali transport. He saw all of his gear laying out when he stepped over and picked up his marine saber.

  “Sir, you came back for your saber?” Andrews asked.

  “It’s not just a ceremonial weapon,” said Kyle as he ducked back out of the vessel. He ran hard and fast, calling to the medics that the way was clear down to the second floor hallway. The engineers had him down the elevator and, like promised, he had the medics coming right behind him.

  He turned the corner into the Otina lab and saw that a fourth wounded marine had joined Wills at the near doorway.

  “Have any of them stuck their heads out?” asked Kyle.

  “No sir, one keeps peeking around the corner looking at us, but so far he has stayed behind the field.”

  “Sir?” another of the marines asked. “What do you think you are doing?”

  Kyle pulled the scabbard from his saber and let it fall to the floor. With his left hand he drew his KA-BAR. He started walking towards the far door.

  “I’m going to go get my sister.”

  Chapter 20

  “Hold still, General.” Doctor Amanda Reeling was trying to look at the small wound on the back of his shoulder.

  “I thought you were a geologist or something, Amanda. How were you on the Danube?” Kyle asked.

  “I am, but I was an LPN before I fell in love with inorganic chemistry and went back to school. When the war broke out, I felt I owed it to Emily to join up. They didn’t need a lot of geologists, but they did need nurses.”

  Kyle felt his sister squeeze his hand and looked down at her.

  “I still can’t believe this,” Cindy said.

  “I know, sis, but you are safe now.”

  Kiskaliski stood nearby watching another of the medics who was patching up Sergeant Wills. The grenade shrapnel was mostly absorbed by his body armor and aside from some severe bruising and a few minor punctures and lacerations, he would be fine. Three of the marines in the Otina lab were not so lucky, and the Earth forces lost twelve in all. The rescued prisoners and the most seriously injured marines were put aboard the Danube, and each of the other vessels took a couple of medics to treat the minor injuries. Cindy was supposed to go on the medical scooter, but she was insistent that she stay with her brother. When Kyle mentioned that he was heading straight to the Iltia system, K-man asked permission from Salazar to accompany the General.

  “I’m telling you, it was amazing. I never saw anything like it.” Wills was telling K-man. “The General came in, pulled his saber from its sheath, grabbed his KA-BAR from his belt and just ran into the blue field. I don’t think the Otina knew what was happening.”

  K-man nodded. “I saw the results of his action. I was pretty stunned, and I never thought I would be stunned again.”

  Kyle rolled his eyes. “You were both trained to know that a knife is the deadliest weapon in an enclosed environment.”

  “A knife, yeah, but a sword? Why did you think to go get a sword?” K-man asked.

  Kyle was about to speak when he heard his sister start to laugh. All three of the marine’s looked at her to see what was so funny.

  “You mean he doesn’t tell everyone?” she asked.

  “Tell everyone what?” Wills asked.

  “Cindy, it’s no big deal. Just drop it,” Kyle said quietly.

  “No, don’t drop it, what does he tell everyone?” insisted K-Man.

  “When he first graduated the Academy, it was all he told anyone who would listen. He was the fencing champion his senior year. He thought it was the biggest deal in the world and he wouldn’t shut up about it,” Cindy said as tears of laughter streaked down her cheeks.

  “Well…,” Kyle cleared his throat. “I guess it did pay off today, didn’t it?”

  They all laughed at that.

  Cindy moved closer to her brother as the two medics finished up their work and started to pack up their kits. “How long has it been since we were taken from the Endeavor?” Cindy asked finally.

  “Two years, ten months and twelve days,” said Kyle.

  “And who were the other two humans with us?” she inquired.

  “One was Chinese and we were able to get some information about him. The other was in such shock that we couldn’t get him to say anything or even acknowledge whether he understood us,” Doctor Reeling said as she came back over and sat with them.

  “I know there is obviously a lot of information that I am missing, but can someone bring me up to speed. Aliens, interstellar travel, my brother rescuing me… I’m a little lost,” Cindy said to Kyle.

  “Let’s start with the basics. The aliens that captured you are called the Otina. The aliens who gave us this ship are called the Hedali.”

  “Uh huh. And who gave us those other ships?” Cindy asked.

  “We built them,” Wills answered.

  “We? As in NASA?”

  “No, we as in Earth,” Kyle replied.

  “When the Iltia’cor invaded and tried to take us over, it kind of consolidated us as a race,” K-man added.

  “Wait… invaded? Aliens invaded Earth?” Cindy was clearly befuddled.

  “They tried to. Didn’t do very well at it. But they started the war by trying to invade,” Wills said.

  “War?”

  Kyle pulled her close to him. “Yes, sis, we are at war. But it should be over soon. We have closed in on the Iltia system and by the time we get there, the battle should be won.”

  “Get there? I thought we were heading to Earth?”

  “No, we are four days from the Iltia system. I need to be there for the surrender and then we have to sign a treaty that will bring Earth officially into the galactic system. Then we will go back to Earth. We should have you back home in about nine days,” said Kyle.

  “Nine days? How far are we going?”

  “The Iltia system is 117 light-years from Earth.”

  Cindy stood up and looked around the small vessel. “Listen up everyone, and I’m serious about this. Does anyone have anything to drink?”

  For the next four days, Cindy was filled in on what had happened since she was taken captive. From the first encounter with the Hedali and Otina, to the murder of Emily Troy and the invasion of the Iltia’cor, and all the way up to the raid on the Otina base that resulted in her rescue. The new technologies, the amazing advances, and the day to day plodding of people’s lives all seemed to thrill and excite her.

  She never volunteered any information about what she had to endure, and Kyle understood that hearing the new and fascinating stories was a good diversion for her. When she took her turn sleeping in the sleeping cabin, Kyle would sit just outside and listen to her whimper and sometimes even scream as her dreams brought back the tortures and experiments that the Otina inflicted on her.

  Even though Kyle was pre-occupied with his sister being alive and safe, he
still had work to do. He had received some last minute transmissions from the Grant just before it left Ellison for the Iltia system. Because he would not be present at the battle, and could quite possibly miss the surrender and treaty signing as well, the Earth Council had promoted Kitch to full General and had appointed her Supreme Commander of Earth Forces.

  Kyle was glad the decision had been made and was surprised at the relief he felt that it wasn’t he who was chosen. He was also pleased at the initial reports from the Iltia system. From the rendezvous locations around the system where the cruisers would start the assault, Earth forces were picking up Iltia’cor communications. The aliens were in disarray with at least three separate factions trying to take charge.

  Further bolstering Kyle’s mood was the news that the communications array on the Otina base was taken intact and could be used on Earth fairly quickly.

  “Sir, we are coming up on the rendezvous point. You said you wanted to be alerted to our arrival.” Andrews said. Kyle walked to the front of the ship and realized that the other five passengers were doing the same.

  The warp field dropped and out the front window Kyle could see a few scooters and a sled.

  “Hemingway, this is Earth Transport Three.”

  “We read you Earth Transport Three, welcome to the Iltia system. I trust all went well?” the voice of Colonel “Cowboy” Jackson greeted the crew.

  Kyle motioned for an ear piece from Leonard who handed one to him.

  “Cowboy! Good to hear your voice, I guess the Hemingway got a few of those new engines?” Kyle said.

  “Indeed sir, she is a tiger once again. Was your mission successful?”

  “Yes it was. We have successfully rescued the crew of the Endeavor and are on our way to driving the Otina from our system.”

  Cindy pulled on Kyle’s arm. “Tell him I said hello.”

  “My sister is here and she says hello,” Kyle smiled at his sister.

  “Good to hear you are alive, Cindy. We’ll get together back on Earth. I know Maggie will be thrilled to see you again. I don’t know if you were aware, sir, but your sister and my wife were a major team of pranksters.”

  Kyle laughed at that before bringing them back to focus on news of the war. “I guess everything went well here or I would be reading all sorts of reports.”

  “Yes sir, we had some serious damage to the Rome, lost several hundred men there, but otherwise it went very well. You do have some reports coming your way, transmitting them now, some battle reports and navigational coordinates to the fourth planet in the system which is where the surrender ceremony and treaty signing will take place. You guys better high tail it if you want to make it in time.”

  “Roger, Cowboy. Thanks for the reports,” Kyle handed the earpiece back to Leonard as Andrews powered up the warp field engines again.

  “How long will it be before we get to the planet?” Cindy asked Kyle.

  Kyle checked his tablet for the coordinates. “Looks like a short hop into the system, then a seven hour run to the planet.”

  “Will they have a full sized bathtub?” she asked as Kyle laughed at her.

  The formal surrender ceremony was already scheduled to have begun by the time Kyle stepped out of the small Hedali landing craft and walked down the four short steps to the ground. For the last two years he had spent a large amount of time in space, but this was the first time he had ever stepped on an alien planet. The docking area was crowded with Earth forces of seemingly dozens of nations and military organizations.

  “This is crazy, Kyle, did you ever think we would be on another planet like this? It’s like something out of a movie,” Cindy said.

  Kyle took his sister’s hand and smiled at her. “Come on, let’s get to the ceremony. They said it was in the large blue and silver building.”

  Andrews, Leonard and the rest of the passengers of the transport were right behind them as they made their way through the crowd. Soon small groups of Iltia’cor could be seen, huddled together, moving quickly from building to building. Kyle wondered how these Human invaders were being viewed by the people of this planet.

  “Sir! General Martin! Sir!” Kyle heard someone call to him. He looked around and finally spotted a young Air Force Captain waving his arm above his head. Kyle recognized him as Captain Mitchell, one of Kitch’s aides.

  “Sir, I was told to get you to the ceremony as soon as you landed. It’s already begun. Please hurry,” he said as he turned and started moving towards an exit.

  It took about twenty minutes to navigate through the crowds and buildings to get to a plain metal door. The door opened and Captain Mitchell entered and pressed a button after everyone in Kyle’s party made their way into the elevator. They quickly moved up the building before the lift stopped and the doors opened into a large spacious room. The ceiling was a good thirty feet high and there were dozens of humans and Iltia’cor milling about.

  “This way, sir,” Captain Mitchell said “They are on the dais near the windows. Although it looks like the ceremony is over.”

  Kyle saw Kitch first. She was in full dress uniform with her four stars shining on her shoulder. Next to her was Chancellor Thomas speaking with an Iltia’cor in a sharp looking white military uniform. Alex and Williams were on the dais along with Admiral Boxer, General Liston, and General Davies. Surprisingly, there was a Junniji with them along with several other Iltia’cor.

  Kyle approached the platform and issued a salute. Alex was the first to see him and motioned to get Kitch’s attention. She turned, smiled, and sharply returned Kyle’s salute.

  “Reporting as ordered, Ma’am,” Kyle said.

  “You’re late, General. I will have to consider that in my review,” Kitch said with a smile.

  “Cindy!” Alex yelled as he saw Kyle’s sister standing off to the side. He practically jumped off the platform to hug her.

  Williams came over and saluted Kyle. “Good to see you, sir.”

  “Good to be seen, Sergeant Major,” Kyle said as he returned the salute.

  Alex had finished hugging Cindy when he saw Doctor Reeling and started hugging her as well.

  “Cindy,” Kyle said. “Come up here, I want you to meet a few people.”

  Kitch extended her hand and said “It’s a pleasure to meet you Cindy, Kyle has spoken of you often. I’m so glad he was able to get you back.”

  Williams patted Kyle on the back and nodded toward Thomas. Leaving his sister to meet and greet the officers that were starting to move over to her, he took a few steps over to where the Chancellor was speaking with the Iltia’cor in the white uniform.

  “Chancellor, sorry I was delayed,” Kyle said shaking the hand of Earth’s representative.

  “Glad you could make it, General.” He turned to the Iltia’cor and said. “This is General Martin who directed our war and had great input on the treaty.”

  “You mean the surrender demands,” the Iltia’cor said in a crumbly, choppy voice.

  “Not in the demands, Ambassador, but in the provisions for self-governance, appeals to the Galactic Council when faced with a dispute over demands from our representatives, and for the cooperation of the Iltia’cor in the joint oversight of rebuilding your defenses,” Thomas replied calmly.

  “Indeed? If that is so, then you are much different than the military leaders I am used to dealing with,” said the alien.

  “General, may I introduce Ambassador Kurval, the highest ranking Iltia’cor that still lives.”

  Kyle gave Thomas a sharp look clearly not understanding what that meant.

  Thomas shrugged a little and answered the unasked question. “Seems the military leadership who were to sign the surrender documents took their own lives last night in a mass suicide. We landed only hours later and were informed of this by Ambassador Kurval.”

  “They were cowards, willing to leave the rest of us to your cruelty when it was they who should have suffered,” Ambassador Kurval said. He then threw his head back and laughed. “And then
you show mercy and bring us hope for a future. Not only cowards, but fools as well. Iltia is well for having lost them.”

  Kyle’s eyes widened at this hostility shown to the Iltia’cor leadership, but he didn’t fully understand how the Iltia’cor viewed each other. Considering what had befallen them, maybe this wasn’t so unusual.

  “I hope that our people can work together in the future, Ambassador Kurval,” said Kyle as he noticed the Junniji approach them.

  “I would very much like to speak with you at length, General. But I see that you are needed by another.” Ambassador Kurval bowed slightly. “I must go now and address my people as to what this day means.”

  Kyle nodded as Ambassaor Kurval spoke some short, guttural words to the other Iltia’cor on the dais and turned to leave the room,

  “General Martin.” The Junniji spoke as he approached Kyle and Thomas. “A’nacal sends his greetings and a copy of the Treaty of the Stars for the people of Earth.”

  Thomas smiled at the Junniji and took the offered treaty tablet. “I will have my people start going over it right away. Please thank A’nacal for us.”

  “I will, Chancellor,” said the thin alien. “He requests that you decide whether to sign or not within twenty Earth days.”

  “We will work as quickly as we can,” replied Thomas.

  The Junniji turned back to Kyle. “Will you follow me, General? I have some instructions for you from A’nacal.”

  Kyle looked towards his sister and saw she was holding court with several of his friends. He turned back to the Junniji and nodded for him to lead.

  A door right off the platform led into a small room with a low table and a couple of narrow benches. The Junniji sat and motioned for Kyle to take a seat on the opposite side. After Kyle sat on the surprisingly uncomfortable bench, the alien took two small silver discs and sat them on the table. He pressed the side of one of the disks and a holographic image appeared above it.

  “Ah, General Martin. Good, good, glad to see you are well,” A’nacal said after his image solidified. “I heard about your little side-trip and hope all went as planned?”