by T. R. Harris
Lee began to reason that the young Savior must have been trained by the Klin to operate the KFV’s as the Klin did. If this were the case, then the aliens weren’t using their craft for even a tenth of their potential, and as such, Carlson was not to blame for his obvious lack of skills.
But still, there was something very odd about the young man.
It was about this time that Lee’s uncle had called him into the Admiral’s office at the Joint Military Command base in Fallon, Nevada — and revealed to him a set of facts that would change his perspective forever.
Fallon had been the U.S. Navy’s Top Gun training base before the attack, located in the mostly-arid desert southeast of Reno. Because of its remote location, the base had been completely missed by the Juireans when they hit all the major population centers around the world. Since then, the base had been greatly enlarged and its mission enhanced. It was now the main base for the Klin Fleet, growing large enough to accommodate the over 1,000 Klin saucers, along with all the support and training staff that went with them. The population at the base soon swelled to nearly 85,000 men and women, making it the largest military base on the planet at the time.
The original Klin Fleet had been manned by Saviors, with men like Carlson serving as the pilots and the Recovery Saviors as crew. However, once the reconstruction efforts began, the fleet had lost its crewmembers, which now had to be replaced quickly with freshly-trained men and women, pulled mainly from the four major armed services, and mostly by Americans. Also, the Savior-pilots were not to be assigned as line officers — as the actual pilots of the ships — but rather as counselors to the newly-trained pilots and crews. Skilled pilots, such as Lee Schwartz, were in great demand by the combined Human/Klin forces.
And this was just the beginning. Already, there were massive shipbuilding efforts taking place at facilities like the newly-rebuilt Newport News Shipbuilding yards in Virginia and the Boeing plants in Washington and South Carolina. The existing Klin Fleet was only the first. Soon a whole new fleet of Earth-built starships would be taking flight and heading off to join the fight against the Juireans.
Chapter 4
“So what do you know about this Savior, this Tim Carlson guy?” his uncle had asked after calling him into the inner sanctum of the Human High Command at Fallon. Lee could tell the Admiral hated to call these men Saviors; it was a sentiment shared by most people these days. But still, Lee was taken aback by his uncle’s odd question.
“He’s pretty strange, but not any more than the others I’ve met, sir.” Lee didn’t know the purpose of the summons; he and his uncle had always tried to maintain a certain level of professionalism and distance regarding their familial relationship.
“You can dispense with the ‘sir’ Lee. We’re all family here.”
Lee was caught off-guard by the comment, and knew instantly that something very serious was in the works.
“Lee, I’m going to tell you a story and you must promise to keep it strictly top secret. Can you do that?”
“Of course, sir!” Here it comes-
“Good.” Admiral Allen walked over to a cabinet and opened the door. Inside was a small hotel-size refrigerator. Allen opened it, pulled out two Coronas and used a bottle opener to pop the tops. He handed one to Lee. The hot desert air of western Nevada was a boom for the sale of beer in the region; luckily most of the beer-brewing companies had not suffered in the Juirean attack.
“First of all, if you’re like the rest of us, you’ve had your suspicions about the Klin and the Juirean attack on the Earth — the fact that the Klin first said they couldn’t stop the attack, and then a few hours later, they do. That’s beginning to raise a lot of eyebrows.”
Lee nodded. He was no idiot; the chain of events was just too close for the Klin story to be believed. But if they could have prevented the attack — and didn’t -
well that raised a whole new set of concerns….
“Lee, it’s the belief of the President and Admiral Keller that the Klin have orchestrated the entire Human-Juirean conflict, and that they have placed spies and surrogates among us to help further their plans.”
Lee’s mouth fell open and his eyes grew wide at the sudden bluntness of his uncle’s comment. Even though the same unformed suspicions had been percolating around in his subconscious for many months now, Lee had refused to put them into any credible order. But now the Admiral had slapped him right in the face with them-
“I can tell from your silence that you are either stunned by disbelief, or you concur with our conclusions.”
“Eh, yes, sir. I’ve had my concerns as well,” Lee stammered. And then it dawned on him: “And the Saviors are their spies!”
“Yes — and no,” Allen said, before taking a long swig from the Corona. “It seems that the Saviors are not what they say they are. In reality, they are Human, but they are not from here. It turns out they were all born off-planet and raised by the Klin from birth. In fact, they’re called 2G’s by the Klin, for Second-Generation Humans.”
“Damn, that explains a lot!” Lee said. “They don’t seem to know fuck-all about sports, or how to play cards — about nothing really.”
Nate Allen smiled. “It seems that you can raise a Human in an alien environment to turn out to be only quasi-Human, at best,” he said. “Without the day-to-day social interaction with other boys and girls, the Saviors — or 2G’s — have missed out on the some of the essential ingredients that makes us truly Human — like all the games of Cowboys and Indians we play, as well as the natural competition that takes place among men and women as we grow up. It’s what gives us our drive. The 2G’s have no interest in sports, or girls, or anything else that makes us uniquely Human. They may have been taught all the fact and figures, but that’s where it ends. It seems you can’t train a Human to be Human, just to act like one. That’s something you need to experience firsthand. And that’s where the Klin missed the boat.”
“So Tim was not born on the Earth — that lying motherfucker!”
“Don’t blame him, Lee. Remember, all he knows about us — and of the Earth — is what the Klin have told him.”
“Yeah, but he’s a threat to the war effort. He works for the Klin, and now you say it’s been the Klin all along who allowed a billion people to be killed.”
Allen came around his desk and sat on the front edge, facing Lee. “The 2G’s are a concern, but not the major one. Our main threats — even more so than the Klin themselves — are the Converts.” Lee could tell from the tone that his uncle capitalized the word ‘Converts’ when he spoke.
“Who are they?”
“They’re actually native-born Humans who have joined the Klin voluntarily, and who don’t advertise their existence like the Saviors do. They are the true spies and infiltrators, and since they were born on Earth — and are as Human as you and me — they are almost impossible to spot.”
Lee shook his head, and without asking for permission, rose and pulled two more Coronas out of the refrigerator. After handing one to the Admiral, he sat back down on the leather couch and took a long swallow off the fresh, cold beer. “Excuse me, sir, but what the fuck is going on here? What are we involved in?”
“I’ll tell you, Lee, it’s a cluster-fuck of major proportions,” said Allen. “It seems that we’re smack dab in the middle of a galactic pissing match, and we’re being played by both sides. Our so-called friends are really our enemy, and our main opponent in this war is a galactic empire with over 8,000 planets on their side. If it weren’t for the seriousness of it all, it would be laughable.”
“So what are we to do now, arrest all these 2G’s — as you call them?”
“That we cannot do. The Klin may suspect that we know of their complicity in the Juirean attack, but we don’t want to advertise that fact to them. Arresting all the 2G’s would simply reveal the Klin as our real enemy and would only cause more problems. If the Klin decide to withdraw, we’d be sitting ducks for the Juireans. And who knows, the Klin just
might attack us themselves at that point.”
“So why am I here, Uncle Nate?”
Allen stretched a wide grin at his nephew. “We need you to turn the 2G — Tim Carlson — over to our side. This has already been done on numerous other occasions around the world; it’s one reason we know so much about what the Klin are up to. Tim Carlson is a pilot-” Allen held up his hand to stop the protest about to erupt from Lee. “-not a very good pilot, I agree, but he knows the Klin systems better than just about anyone else. Admiral Keller and I have found that most of the 2G’s are actually innocents in this galactic chess game. They didn’t choose to be born off-planet, and are as much victims of the Klin’s plot as we are. And we’ve noticed that most of them are actually starving for attention and acceptance by their peers — just like everyone else. Just imagine being dropped into a foreign country with no friends or family. You’d do just about anything you could to be accepted by the natives, and I don’t mean as some circus side-show, like they are now.”
“So what, you want me to become his buddy; maybe set him up on a date with my sister?”
“With Carla?” The admiral laughed out loud. “Hell no! We want him on our side, not running back into space and into the arms of momma-Klin! I don’t think he’s man enough for that one. Not yet.”
“It was a rhetorical question, sir!” They both shared a good-natured laugh.
“But seriously, Lee, we need him to feed false reports to the Klin about the progress of our own shipbuilding efforts, and also to identify any Converts he may know of. The President and Admiral Keller are in the process of compiling a list of all the 2G’s and Converts, just in case we have to use it. And as far as we can tell, the Klin are not aware of our operations at Nellis. They think our only shipbuilding programs are at the East Coast facilities and with Boeing. We need to keep them believing that.”
Allen could tell from Lee’s frown that he didn’t know what he was talking about. “I’m sorry, Lee. I keep forgetting you’re not part of the inner circle — until now. Let me fill you in.
“As you’re already aware, the Klin spaceships are pretty sophisticated, but they seem to be missing certain basic capacities and capabilities — namely having to do with their weapon systems. This is understandable, since the Klin don’t seem to be very experienced at waging war. They may be sly, back-handed bastards and political manipulators, but as far as hard-as-nails warriors, they seem to be missing the killer instinct, and their technology shows it.
“What we’ve been doing down at Nellis AFB — outside of Vegas — is add a few new weapons systems to some of the Klin ships, some of the ones that are off-the-books. We’ve installed a new smart-missile system, a rapid-fire cannon and even a few new counter-measures. The techies tell us that most of the defensive systems of both the Klin and Juireans are centered around their energy weapons, and our tests have shown that simple ballistic projectiles can pass right through their shields with little effort.”
“No shit — sir!” No matter how hard he tried, Lee still couldn’t get past the stars on his uncle’s collar; the ‘sir’ was simply habit by now.
Allen smiled, a sly, devilish smile. “No shit. In close-in action, the Juireans could be in for quite a surprise — and same for the Klin — if it comes down to that.”
“Do you see that as a possibility?” Lee’s voice suddenly turned serious.
Allen mirrored his nephew’s solemn expression. “We may have to dance with the Klin at this time, but the fact remains that they are still the main reason we’re in this mess in the first place. They may not have actually pulled the trigger, but there are still a billion dead Human beings as a result of their action — or more correctly — inaction. That’s not something you can easily ignore. Eventually, it will have to be addressed, one way or the other.”
Lee nodded. He knew his uncle was right. Even though the truth had been revealed to him only minutes before, he fully grasped the complexity of the situation they were facing.
It had only been a few short months since the events of November 6th — a date which was now etched upon the psyche of every man, woman and child on the planet Earth — even more so than December, 7th or 9-11.
Yes, the date of 11-6 was now one of intense emotional meaning for every person on the planet, no matter their nationality, religion or ethnic background. Humanity had been staggered and stunned, with perceptions regarding the very nature of existence poured into a blender and set on high. No one could tell anymore what was real and what wasn’t; not the politicians, not the military — even religious leaders found it difficult to come up with any lasting comfort for their flocks. Everyone was just going through the motions now, trying to convince themselves that what they were doing was making a difference.
And LCDR Lee Schwartz, U.S. Navy, was no different. His sole existence now revolved around the need for revenge against the Juireans through military action. And the clock was ticking toward the time when Humanity would begin to push back. Whether that push came against the Juireans or the Klin — or both — Lee really didn’t care. Not anymore.
And no matter how long it took, eventually, someone would have to pay.
Chapter 5
Adam and Sherri covered their heads with cloth hoods and headed back toward Lann Hall. As they were leaving the shuttle, Adam got an idea, sparked by the brief conversation Sherri had had with the Hyben in line with them earlier that evening. He was hoping to locate that particular Hyben again within the mob of aliens leaving the hall once the Juirean credits were depleted or the authorities put an end to Adam’s generosity.
The problem for the two Humans was that most Hyben looked alike. This one, however, would be covered in Juirean blood….
Lann Hall was an exception to traditional Hyben architecture. It was box-shaped, having been built by Expansion designers to accommodate the needs of the majority of Primes. Most Hyben buildings were dome-shaped and constructed of mud and rock culled from the debris of the burrowing natives. This potent mixture practically glued itself together, allowing for buildings that reached heights of ten stories or more.
Adam and Sherri climbed an external metal staircase on one of the taller domes surrounding the Hall and watched for any sign of the Hyben with a blood-soaked robe. The area outside the Hall was still filled with a melange of alien creatures, most still very irate at the earlier disruption of the recruiting meeting. However, word of the Juirean killings had spread rapidly throughout the crowd; even then some of the creatures still attempted to enter the hall to get their share of the Juirean credits being handed out inside; times were that desperate on Hyben.
As predicted, the party soon came to an abrupt end when several large transports pulled up to the building and two-dozen heavily-armed Hyben climbed out to take up positions near the entrance. A panic started inside the building, and a flood of creatures began to pour from the main entrance, each not wanting to give back the credits they had just acquired.
The armed beings did the best they could to corral the mob, but the numbers were just too great, and it wasn’t long before Adam spied the tall Hyben with the red splash of blood on his tan-colored robe moving among them. This particular native had more credits than most stuffed in his pockets, and as such would be quite anxious to vacate the area as quickly as possible.
The Human assassins scampered back down the ladder and headed along a parallel street to the one the Hyben was traveling. Lucky for them, he would be easy to spot.
They continued to follow, able to move much faster than the Hyben in the planet’s lighter surface gravity. Occasionally, they would cut over through an alleyway and wait for him to pass, confirming his route, before returning to the parallel street. Even though the creature continually glanced behind him for any sign of pursuit, he nevertheless maintained a beeline for this residence.
The taller buildings soon began to thin out, replaced with smaller mounds of dirt with large double doors set within them. These were the entrances to the Hyben liv
ing chambers: deep, winding tunnels where the natives and their pods resided.
Adam and Sherri began to follow more closely now, ducking behind the mounds to remain hidden from the Hyben. Eventually, he came to a particular mound and disappeared through its double doors.
The Humans waited several minutes for other Hyben in the neighborhood to clear out before they approached the door. Adam tested the handle; it was unlocked.
They entered as quietly as possible and found themselves in a large circular room with dirt floors and dirt walls. There were electric lights lining the chamber, and leading down a wide stairway at the opposite end of the room. Drawing their MK’s, Adam and Sherri entered the stairway and began the descent.
About ten meters down, they began to hear voices, the translation bugs imbedded behind their ears deciphering the Hyben language.
“This is incredible!” someone was saying. “But can we keep them?”
“There was so much confusion there that I’m sure no one will be able to track who took them. I maintain we keep the credits and not say a word.”
“Thank all the Bello Gods! These credits will help-”
“You’re welcome,” Adam said calmly, stepping into the large cavernous room, MK-17 held at the ready.
The group of five Hyben all turned toward his voice, their mouths all forming perfect O’s of surprise. They were standing around a large round wooden table, now piled high with the credit-card-shaped Juirean money.
“I’m glad I could help. Now, I suppose, you owe me a favor…”
Adam had only been on Hyben for less than two days, and in that time he had not had the opportunity to see a Hyben female in person — although he had heard about them. A normal Hyben male was about a half-meter taller than Adam, but the females were easily twice his height and girth! They were bulky, shrimp-like creatures with three sets of two appendages each lining the front side of the thorax. As they all stood staring at each other in stunned silence, Adam finally had a chance to take a good look at a Hyben.