Dawn of a New Age

by Rick Bentsen

  “I’m glad.” Cheria handed her a plate of eggs. “You looked a little haggard when you came in yesterday.”

  “I hadn’t been sleeping well,” Thala shrugged. She took the plate of eggs and took a bite. “And I’ve missed your cooking. I’m afraid I’m not much of a cook.”

  “Well, I’m sure in time, you’ll learn how to cook,” Cheria smiled.

  “I was thinking I’d go to the temple today,” Thala said thoughtfully.

  “You might run into Tobias there. He’s been there a lot lately since his sister was killed,” Cheria sighed.

  “Serin was killed?” Thala’s jaw dropped.

  “Yes. She was on the Grange when it was destroyed,” Cheria looked down. “She didn’t make it.”

  “Lords, I didn’t know,” Thala said softly, tears filling her eyes. “I didn’t see her name on any of the casualty lists, Mother. If I had, I would have been home as soon as I had heard.”

  “I know, Thala,” Cheria said. “So does Tobias. He still loves you.”

  “I don’t really know how I feel about anyone anymore,” Thala said in a distant voice.

  “Well, maybe some time at the temple will help clear your head,” Cheria touched her daughter’s cheek tenderly.

  “That’s what I was hoping, Mother,” Thala nodded.

  Thala finished her eggs and headed out of the door. She looked around and took a deep breath. She smiled to herself. It was definitely good to be home.

  She headed up the path to the temple. It was a long winding path up a hill that overlooked the town. She’d walked this walk many times, and she never got tired of the walk. The path was designed to clear the mind while the person walked up to the temple.

  The temple itself was fairly small. No actual services were held in the temple. The people of Kentar came up to the temple to pray when they needed to pray. Most of the temples on Jarada V served the same purpose.

  She walked into the temple, closing her eyes and remembering other times that she had gone into the temple, smiling to herself.

  “Thala?” a tentative male voice said. “Thala Ker’sal?”

  “Tobias,” she said without opening her eyes. “I was told you might be here.” She opened her eyes to see Tobias standing there looking at her. “It is good to see you again, old friend.”

  “I thought I’d never see you again, Thala. I’ve missed you a great deal.” Tobias Jar’ra wrapped Thala up in his arms, holding her close as if trying to convince himself that she was real.

  “Tobias, I heard about Serin. I’m so sorry,” she said, genuinely concerned about the big man. “I didn’t know until I had gotten home.”

  “It’s OK, Thala,” Tobias said, his features sad. “I know you would have been here had you known. I hear that the Star League is trying to make peace with the Brentax.”

  “Yes, they are,” Thala said.

  “I think it is a mistake. And I intend to do something about it. Are you with me?” Tobias asked, praying in his soul that she’d say yes.

  “Yes,” she said after a moment’s pause. She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. “I’m with you.”

  “I’ll see you in town later?”

  “Yes, Tobias. Now scoot, I need some time alone to sort some things out,” she grinned.

  “I’ll see you later. I still love you, Thala. I’ve always loved you.”

  Tobias lumbered out of the temple, leaving Thala alone with her thoughts. She took her rank insignia off and examined it. Shaking her head, she placed the insignia on the altar and turned around and left the temple.

  She was never going to wear a rank in the Star League Defense Force again.

  Chapter 15

  2.7.2136

  0543

  Brentax III

  Brentax Militia headquarters.

  K’ALAN crept along the hall, his energy bow by his side. The bow was charged and humming softly, ready for him to draw and fire at a moment’s notice. He kept telling himself that this was going to be easy. Of course, it didn’t matter how many times he told himself, he still didn’t believe it. He thought briefly of K’Itea and smiled a slight smile. She always did have that affect on him. He missed her, but he was more upset that she was back on the White Knight worrying about him.

  He saw a couple of guards up ahead, and he ducked into a doorway. The guards looked down the hallway but didn’t see him, and they moved on. K’Alan released his breath in a long sigh of relief, and, slowly, he started back down the corridor.

  Idly, he wondered how Mario was doing as he made his way along the corridor. If he was right, the main computer control center was going to be on his right very shortly.

  Very carefully, he made his way into the computer control center. It was empty.

  Too easy, he thought to himself. There should be at least one or two guards here.

  He looked around, and backed out of the room.

  “Hold it right there,” a guard said as he came around the corner.

  K’Alan rolled his eyes and whipped around, firing a bolt from his energy bow as soon as he was facing the guard. The bolt struck the guard dead in his chest. The guard fell backward, stunned. K’Alan looked around to see if anyone had heard the scuffle. Not seeing anyone else around, K’Alan sighed and pulled the guard into the computer control center.

  “Sorry, buddy,” he said. “I can’t have you waking up and following me.”

  He stunned the guard a second time and stuffed the body in a panel, hoping no one would come in and find the body anytime soon.

  “The things I do for king and country,” K’Alan muttered.

  He made his way out of the computer center, his energy bow at the ready. He’d taken the guard’s blaster rifle and had slung it over his back. The blaster rifle had been set on heavy stun, which was a comfort. He did not think the Brentax were expecting an assault. He made his way down the hallway towards M’Bek Tarmos’s office.

  Meanwhile, in another part of the complex, Mario was also making his way towards the office. He had drawn his sword before starting into the complex, hoping he wouldn’t need it. He’d seen a couple guards, but he hadn’t been seen. He counted himself lucky.

  He thought about how K’Alan might be faring and pushed the thought out of his mind. No time for distraction behind enemy lines. He carefully picked his way along the corridor, keeping his sword in front of him. The sword danced in the light, and having it our made him feel a little more secure.

  “Hold it right there,” a guard said as he appeared suddenly.

  “I’m sorry,” Mario said. “I seem to be lost. Could you direct me to the casino?”

  “Very funny,” the guard said.

  “Well, my mother said I should be a comedian,” Mario said, flashing his winning smile.

  The guard never saw the strike. All he knew was suddenly he was looking at his own feet… sideways. And that was a condition that didn’t last long as, mercifully, his eyes stopped seeing anything.

  “Well,” Mario said to himself. “That was fun. It’s so nice to know that I haven’t lost my touch.”

  He shook his head and started down the corridor. Suddenly, he just didn’t care about whether or not he and K’Alan were going to pull this off. He had the feeling that they were about to be in some very serious trouble.

  He ran around the corner towards M’Bek Tarmos’s office when he almost ran right into K”Alan.

  “Fancy meeting you here,” Mario smiled as he stood with his hand on his hip. “Going my way, big boy?”

  “You’re not exactly my type, Mario,” K’Alan grinned. “Let’s get this over with.”

  Mario kicked open the office door…

  … and saw nothing.

  The office was empty. The two friends looked at each other and bolted through the window just before the hallway and the office filled with tear gas.

  The two Star League soldiers ran back to the Chancellor’s house to regroup.

  2.7.2136

  0810

 
Earth

  President Kerrin Jameson’s Office.

  Kerrin Jameson had a stack of reports on her desk. That was nothing new and different. She always seemed to have a stack of reports on her desk these days. She chuckled as she imagined what it would be like to live in a totally paperless society. Well, it was an idea that had merit. She’d have to examine it closely.

  Kerrin was in a good mood for a change. Lately, she dreaded going to work, because of the war. But today, she was in a good mood. She figured it was because she knew the war would be ending soon. And today would be the main reason behind the war’s end.

  There was a knock on the door. She looked up, surprised that someone would be knocking on her door this early.

  “Come in,” she called.

  A white coated doctor walked in slowly. From the look on his face, Kerrin knew that it wasn’t good news. She could feel her good mood fading away.

  “Can I help you, Doctor…?” she trailed off.

  “Doctor Mark Johnson, Madame President,” the doctor said softly. “I’m afraid I have bad news.”

  “What is it, Doctor?” she asked. As soon as she asked, she knew that she did not want to know the answer.

  “Perrin Hawks is dead, Madame President,” the doctor lowered his eyes. “We did everything we could. We used all our capabilities. But we couldn’t revive her. I’m sorry.”

  “Doctor,” the president asked after a while. “What time did she die?”

  “Four fifteen this morning, ma’am,” the doctor said.

  “Four fifteen…” she repeated. “Well, that explains it then.”

  “Ma’am?” the doctor looked at her with a puzzled look on his face.

  “Never mind. Thank you for letting me know, Doctor Johnson,” Kerrin dismissed him with a wave of her hand.

  “I’m sorry we couldn’t do more,” he said, bowing. He left the office, but Kerrin never even noticed.

  “Jane, I need to be booked on an immediate flight to Chicago. First available flight,” she said into her desk intercom. “And all of my appointments today are to be cancelled. If anyone asks, I have personal business to attend to.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” came Jane’s voice immediately. “I can have you on a flight in twenty minutes.”

  “That’ll do, Jane,” Kerrin sighed. “That’ll do.”

  2.7.2136

  1012

  Gamma Epsilon Station

  Admiral John Bonetti’s office.

  “Admiral Bonetti,” Sergeant Riggs called over his desk intercom. “The newest casualty report’s here.”

  “Bring it in, Riggs,” the admiral said, fighting the urge to sigh. All he really wanted to do was to run away until the war was over. He was getting tired of this daily routine.

  Riggs came in with the casualty sheet. He handed it to Admiral Bonetti, and the admiral noted that there was a tear in Riggs’s eye.

  “Someone you knew on the list, Riggs?” John asked.

  “My sister, sir,” Riggs said, and John could tell that he was fighting to keep it together.

  “I’m sorry, Sergeant,” John shook his head. “Why don’t you take the rest of the day off?”

  “Thank you, sir,” the sergeant nodded. “Would… would it be alright if I called my parents and let them know?”

  “Normally, I’d say no,” John sighed. “But under the circumstances, how can I? Give your parents my sincere condolences.”

  “I will,” Riggs said softly. “Thank you, sir.”

  The admiral smiled at the young sergeant and watched him go. Then he looked at the list himself.

  “Oh, Lord,” he said when he saw Perrin Hawks name. “What do we do when our best gets taken out?”

  2.7.2136

  1113

  SLS White Knight

  The City

  S’Era and K’Itea were sitting in the park watching the children play. Elam was practicing his pitching on a screen that K’Alan had set up before leaving on the mission. They watched as Elam threw pitch after pitch, only about a third hitting the red strike zone. Elam didn’t get frustrated; he just kept throwing one pitch after another. Every so often, Elam would throw a near-perfect pitch. Whenever he did, he’d look over to see if his mother and aunt had been watching.

  The two women watched Elam quietly. Each was lost in her own thoughts about the two men who were off the ship. They were each worried terribly, although K’Itea was convinced that S’Era was worried about her brother rather than Mario. It was true enough. S’Era was very worried about K’Alan. But she was in love with Mario. All she knew was that a piece of her would die inside if Mario didn’t come back safely.

  “I wish they’d just come back,” S’Era said, breaking the silence by saying what they were both thinking.

  “I know,” K’Itea said. “I had to get sleeping pills to help me get to sleep last night. It’s never been this hard to sleep without K’Alan before.”

  “Can I tell you something, Kit?” S’Era asked after a pause. “Something I’m not sure even K’Alan knows?”

  “Of course, S’Era,” K’Itea smiled. It was a warm and genuine smile. “You’re my friend. You can tell me anything.”

  “I think I’m in love with Mario Bonetti,” S’Era said.

  K’Itea’s jaw dropped. She was expecting her friend to say anything except that.

  “Are you sure?” K’Itea finally managed to get out. “Does he know?”

  “I think he does,” S’Era nodded. “He’s always been attracted to me for sure. I just don’t really know what to say. I asked him if he wanted to go to dinner with me sometime. He had to think about it.”

  “He probably wanted to talk to K’Alan and make sure that he wouldn’t be upset,” K’Itea chuckled. “If I know my husband, he’ll hem and haw, and make Mario feel lower than dirt, and then, when Mario’s convinced that K’Alan’s totally against you two dating, Kal will say something to the effect of, ‘Well, if S’Era’s got her heart set on you, then who am I to stand in the way?’ and stay out of it.” K’Itea smiled at S’Era. She had no doubt in her mind that what she had just said would be exactly how the conversation went. She had known her husband a very long time, and she knew his ways.

  “I hope so,” S’Era said. “I’ve never quite met anyone like Mario. He makes me feel all giddy inside. You know what I mean?”

  “Yes, I do, S’Era,” K’Itea grinned. “You just explained how your brother makes me feel.”

  They watched Elam throw the ball a few more times.

  “You know, Kit,” S’Era said. “The more I watch him, the more he reminds me of K’Alan.”

  “Oh? How so?”

  “He’s so damn stubborn.”

  The two girls shared a good long laugh.

  2.7.2136

  1123

  Brentax III

  Chancellor G’Kiron’s home.

  Mario and K’Alan had just gotten back to the chancellor’s home from the Brentax Militia Headquarters. They had taken a circuitous route so that they couldn’t be followed. When they were sure they were safe, they had headed to the chancellor’s home. It wasn’t that they were worried about getting caught. They were pretty sure the Brentax Militia knew exactly what they had planned. They just didn’t know how yet. But they were worried about getting Chancellor G’Kiron in trouble. He had, after all, been very helpful.

  Mario knocked on the door. There was no response, so K’Alan pulled out his lock pick kit and picked the lock. It was an easy lock and didn’t take long at all. K’Alan opened the door and looked around.

  The place looked empty. The two Star League soldiers searched the entire house, from one end to the other. There was no sign of the chancellor.

  “Mario, I think they may have our friend,” K’Alan said.

  “And I think we’re in trouble,” Mario added.

  Chapter 16

  2.7.2136

  1206

  Earth

  Chicago Transport Station

  KERRIN Jameson stepped
off a transport and sighed. This was the least favorite part of her job. And it always would be. Occasionally, with certain casualties, she felt like she had to personally convey the news of the soldier’s death to his or her family. This one however, was intensely personal. Seeing Perrin Hawks’ family under these circumstances was not going to be easy. She walked slowly towards the el station, unconsciously dragging her heels.

  Chicago, although most of the world had gone to hovercars and rail-less trains, still had ground transportation that ran on gas and wheels, and still had the el. The el had been a fixture in Chicago for decades. Even though the city had been pressured to modernize, the citizens had steadfastly refused, saying to make such changes would remove the character from the city. And so the el remained.

  Kerrin had always hated taking the el. Over the years, the ride had gotten rougher. It seemed like no one had paid attention to how the el ran, and it felt like there had been no maintenance in at least a decade, although she knew that there had been. She had always been afraid the el would come off the track, killing everyone on board and causing major destruction and panic. She had wanted to have the el taken down and replaced with a more modern rail-less train, but the decision was still up to the city government. She really didn’t see the benefit of pushing the issue.

  So she found herself waiting for the el, a mode of transportation she hated, to take her to a part of Chicago that she didn’t want to be in to see some people she’d rather not be visiting under the current circumstances.

  Yeah, she groaned to herself. This is about a normal day for me.

  She watched the track silently, trying not to think about her friend. She’d talked to the doctors again before she had left for Chicago. They had assured her that Perrin died peacefully. There had been no suffering. For that, Kerrin had been grateful. Perrin was too good a friend to have a painful death. Besides, it would ease her family’s pain to know that she’d died without pain.

  Too bad nothing can ease my pain, Kerrin groused to herself. This war’s had too high a cost on me.