by D. J. Holmes
As the shuttle descended towards the moon’s surface, James wasn’t surprised to see they weren’t heading towards one of the many domed cities. Instead, they were heading towards a small drab looking installation. When they got close enough, an access hatch opened and the shuttle passed through it. Only after the external hatch closed did the interior lights come on. When they illuminated the internal features of the installation, James was impressed. There was enough room to land at least six shuttles in the hangar bay. Beyond the bay, it looked like the installation had several cargo holds, all filled with crates, though James couldn’t tell what was in them. “Just how deep does this go?” he asked Russell.
“Eight levels are below the main hangar bay,” Russell answered. “This was originally a RSNI black site. Though we’ve been working to expand it. We hope to add ninth and tenth levels in the coming months.”
“What are all these levels used for?” James queried.
Russell raised an eyebrow. “Do you really want to know? There are some things an Emperor is best left in the dark about. I can say we do a lot of our training here. I’ll tell you more if you really want though?”
James opened his mouth to demand to know, then he thought better of it. Whatever Russell was prepared to reveal to him, he guessed he’d have to tell Christine about it. Then she would intervene. His uncle had trusted Russell completely, so did he. If he thought whatever he was doing was necessary for the war effort, then James was content to leave it at that. Unbuckling himself, James stood, “Come on, let’s get this over and done with,” he said by way of answering Russell’s question.
Silently, James followed Russell through the IID compound to the eighth floor. They’re not taking any chances, James thought as the turbolift took them down. If Hux’lar escaped, he’d have to fight his way up through all eight levels. Even then he’d find himself in the middle of nowhere. James didn’t know if Karacknids could survive on the very thin atmosphere Humanity had managed to produce on the Moon before they had given up trying to fully terraform it, but even if he could, he suspected it would be unpleasant for the Karacknid general.
“We’re here,” Russell said when they came to a large door with two marines in full combat armor standing guard. “General Johnston is going to join you. Hux’lar and the general have had several conversations.”
James turned to Johnston. “Anything else I should know them before we go in?”
Johnston smiled. “Like Russell said, just be yourself.”
James nodded and turned to the door. Then, after taking a deep breath, he gestured to one of the marines. “Okay, let’s go.” The marine saluted and opened the door. Both marines preceded James into the room. As he walked in, James was surprised by how spacious it was. In one corner there was a large bed. Though it didn’t look like anyone had slept in it. In the center of the room, on a slightly odd-looking chair, Hux’lar sat. His eyes were fixed on James. Though he had never been face-to-face with a Karacknid before, James could feel the disgust pouring off Hux’lar. Keeping his face impassive so as not to betray his emotions, James casually moved towards Hux’lar and took the seat opposite.
“Greetings general,” James began. “I am Imperator Somerville. I thought it time I met my enemy face to face. The strategic skills you demonstrated at Holstein where impressi…” James didn’t get any further for Hux’lar tilted his head back and let out a crackling howl.
“You! You are your species’ Imperator!” Hux’lar let out another howl. “You are pathetic. Why would your people pick you? When our fleet returns your species will fall in a day, if not hours, if you are its leader. Your species is so weak you need two armored guards to even come into my presence.” As he finished speaking, Hux’lar raised his hands to show the wounds where his claws had been. “Your species has no honor. You are cowards.”
James tightened his jaw. Things hadn’t begun as he had hoped. He was tempted to turn and give Russell a knowing glance, he knew the spymaster would be watching the meeting from one of the recording devices hidden in the room, instead he turned to the two marines in combat armor and gestured for them to leave. For a moment it looked like they were going to ignore his order, then they both saluted and exited the room. Slowly, James turned back to Hux’lar. “You were saying?... I believe you have mistaken prudence for cowardice. Does your Imperator not have his own guards? Is he so unimportant to your species that you do not protect him?”
“You are a foolish subspecies,” Hux’lar barked. “Do not compare yourself to the Imperator of the Karacknid empire. You would melt into atoms simply by being in his presence.”
“That may be,” James said as he decided to change tact. Playing nice was clearly not going to work. “But your Imperator is not here. He was too cowardly to come and face my species. Perhaps he is smarter than I give him credit for. If he had been here, he may have perished with the fleet that we drove out of our territory. Tell me, how many Karacknid fleets have been utterly defeated by their enemies?”
Hux’lar jumped to his feet, his muscles bulging. It took every ounce of James’ self-control to remain seated. Hux’lar motioned as if he was going to take a swing at James. Again, James didn’t flinch. Instead he held Hux’lar’s gaze firmly. “I believe you have badly misread this situation general. You are the captive here. I have nothing to fear from you. You think your species is invincible.” James lent forward as he continued. “My people have already demonstrated the folly of such thinking. We will do so again and again until your empire is no more.”
Ever so slowly, then more quickly, Hux’lar sat down. Though his expression did not change. “You will be made to pay for your insult to my Imperator,” he said far more calmly than he looked. “My fleet was not defeated, it carried out a tactical retreat. One that will allow it to return and wipe your species out. When the time comes, I will take great pleasure in being the one to hand you over to my Imperator. I’m sure he will take great pleasure in disabusing you of your false views about yourself and your species.”
“False views? Like what?” James asked when he saw an opening.
Hux’lar let out another crackling howl. “You’ll have to do better than that Imperator,” he said in a tone that left no doubt how unworthy he felt James was to have such a title. “I will not tell you anything about my species. What you will learn from us, you will learn through death and destruction. That is all your species will ever know. You’re not capable of anything else.”
James shook his head, almost out of genuine pity. “I’m afraid it is not I who is deluded here, but you general. If you cannot face up to reality, then your species may be easier to defeat than we thought. Your fleet did not carry out a tactical withdrawal, it was defeated. Just like the fleet that invaded Varanni space was turned back and driven out.” When Hux’lar’s eyes flashed, James pressed on. “Yes, you heard me correctly. The invasion of the Varanni Alliance failed. Your fleets have fallen back in disarray. It is your species who is on the defensive,” James added as he mixed in lies with the truth to rile Hux’lar up.
“What do you know of war?” Hux’lar spat. “Imperators do not conduct naval strategy.”
James smiled, whether he knew it or not, Hux’lar had just revealed one interesting piece of intelligence. He pointed to his uniform. “Do you see this? This is the uniform of an Admiral of my species’ Navy. Perhaps your Imperator hides behind his fleets. The leaders of my species do not. Who do you think commanded the fleet that drove your invasion force out of my species’ territory? I fear you have severely underestimated us.”
Hux’lar shook his head in a very Human-like fashion. “You are the one who is deluded. Your species is nothing compared to mine. Look at me,” he said as he raised his hands again. “You had to maim me just to feel safe in my presence.”
“Really?” James asked as he remembered a recording Johnston had shown him a couple of months ago. “Perhaps you remember the marines that captured you? They assaulted your command outpost, defeated your gua
rds, and took you prisoner. How many of them were there? Four I believe. Four against your entire command staff, and what happened?” James gestured towards Hux’lar. “What happened is that you are here with us. You do not believe my species is the equal of yours, then see for your own eyes.” Pulling out a datapad, James accessed a recording on it. He then slid it across the table to Hux’lar. As the recording played, James studied Hux’lar’s expression. He had seen the video before and knew what was on it. As Hux’lar watched, James could easily remember. One of the resistance fighters on Holstein had set up a recording device to watch Hux’lar’s command outpost. It had caught a part of Major Jeffers’ assault on the Karacknid base. The recording showed Jeffers and one of her marines confronting two Karacknid guards. In a hand-to-hand engagement, both Jeffers and her marine overpowered the Karacknids and killed them with their nano carbon knifes. The marine with Jeffers actually cut off the Karacknid’s claws in the fight before slipping his knife into the Karacknid’s throat.
“So,” James said as he rested his hands on the table when the recording stopped playing. “Now you’ve seen it with your own eyes, my species is not inferior.”
Hux’lar threw the datapad across the room to smash against one of the walls. “A lie. I have seen many of your marines in combat. This is a lie.”
James raised a single finger on his right hand. Johnston got the message loud and clear. In the blink of an eye he crossed the distance to Hux’lar. Before the Karacknid could react, the special forces marine had Hux’lar in a chokehold. James watched, holding Hux’lar eyes for several seconds as the Karacknid general struggled with all his might to escape. Thanks to Johnston’s enhancements, the Karacknid was no match for him.
“Is this a lie?” James asked. Knowing Hux’lar couldn’t answer, he pressed on. “Are you so deluded that you cannot believe what your own eyes are telling you? What your own body is screaming out to you? You see, here, I am not the one in danger. You, and you alone are… Now, are you ready to be more cooperative?”
For several seconds James stared into Hux’lar’s eyes. When it seemed almost like he was going to fall unconscious, James flicked his glance to Johnston and then back. The marine released Hux’lar with a grunt. Then, just as quickly as he had closed with the alien, he was back standing at James’ shoulder. As soon he was released, Hux’lar gasped for breath. Both his hands came up to his throat. James waited until he got his breath back. “I have an offer for you. I’m prepared to grant you your freedom. You can return to your Imperator and your family if you have any. All I ask is that you answer three questions and bring a message from me to your Imperator.”
Hux’lar pulled his lips back, revealing his razor-sharp teeth, and hissed at James. Then he tilted his head back and let out his loudest roar yet. “You weak pathetic being. You do not deserve sentience. I will never answer any of your questions, nor will I be granted freedom by you. My people will come to this system and liberate me. Then and only then will I be able to stand without shame before the Imperator. You think your species can stand up to us? You are the one who does not accept reality. You have what, a hundred systems? We have eighty times as many. You had a fleet of a thousand warships? We have tens of thousands. We can produce more warships in a single year than your species has ever constructed. The Imperator has decreed that your species will be conquered, and so my people will not rest nor stop attacking until that has been accomplished. If it takes the lives of hundreds of thousands of Karacknids, your worlds will fall. You and your people will bow before our Imperator.” Hux’lar waved his hand towards Johnston. “Fancy tricks or not, your inferiority will be laid bare for you. The day is coming when you will not be able to delude yourself any longer.” Quicker than James or even Johnston could react, Hux’lar spat a large glob of saliva into James’ face.
Immediately Johnston put himself between James and Hux’lar. For a split-second panic raced through James. He didn’t know whether Hux’lar had been hiding some kind of poisonous saliva the doctors who had examined him had missed. When no immediate ill effects assaulted him, he fought to get control of his emotions. No doubt Russell would want to carry out a full medical exam, but he couldn’t just run out of the room. Reaching out he gently eased Johnston to one side. “Very well, you have made your decision. You will rot away in here until the end of the war. Before I go though, you should know this. My three questions were these; how many warships does your empire have? What is the size of your military-industrial complex? And on what terms might your Imperator settle? It seems you have answered my questions for free.” James bowed his head slightly. “For that I thank you general. Good day to you.”
Hux’lar jumped to his feet and screamed at James. James didn’t look up. Instead he gently slid himself out of his seat, turned and moved towards the door. It opened as he approached and he walked out without turning back. Though his face was perfectly calm, James’ heart was pumping madly. Partly, it was out of concern for what Hux’lar’s spit might do to him. Far more than that though, he was fighting to push down his fear. A part of him had held out hope that if Humanity and the Varanni Alliance were able to bleed the Karacknids enough, they would eventually sue for peace. It was good news to hear that the Karacknids counted their ships in the tens of thousands, not the hundreds of thousands. Now they knew that about eight thousand planets was the upper estimate for the size of the Karacknid empire. That was a large number, but it wasn’t beyond what he had expected.
On the other hand, Hux’lar’s sheer hatred for Humanity and his apparent commitment to destroying his Imperator’s enemies at all costs had shaken James to his core. The enemy wasn’t just one that lusted for conquest, the Karacknid empire would stop at nothing to subdue his people. There would be no ceasefires, no peace, no diplomatic settlements. Either he would have to find a way to destroy the Karacknid empire’s ability to make war, or they would conquer and enslave every Human planet. Either we destroy them, or they destroy us, James said to himself as his mind boggled to comprehend just what a monumental struggle winning such a war would take. That, or we kill their Imperator, he added as a new thought occurred to him. Hux’lar’s undying devotion to his Imperator was obvious, James had no idea what would happen if their Imperator was captured or killed. But if nothing else, it might break their spirit. Though he had no idea how to accomplish such a feat, James filed the thought in the back of his mind. Winning the war was a far distant hope. But it was his responsibility to think that far ahead.
Chapter 8
For a time what have come to be called starfighters ruled the battlefield. But like all battlefield innovations, their time was cut short by other, newer weapons systems. Today every major fleet known to the Human Empire employs starfighters, but their usefulness is limited.
-Excerpt from Empire Rising, 3002 AD.
Whilst the meeting with Hux’lar had been short, the debriefing with Russell and his analysts took James a couple of hours. Eventually Russell allowed James to return to his shuttle. “Thanks again for your help Admiral,” Russell said as they walked through the IID facility. “It might seem like we got very little, but it’s a start. Perhaps we can get more out of Hux’lar now that we’ve got him talking. Even if it is only heaping more insults upon us.”
“I’d say my pleasure,” James replied, “but I’d be lying. If I don’t ever have to be in a room with another Karacknid again, I’d be a happy man.”
Russell smiled. “Agreed, though you did handle yourself ably. You should know by now that if you do a job well, you are usually asked to do it again.”
James rolled his eyes. “My place is in space at the head of a fleet, not interrogating prisoners. I hope that the next time you have someone you want to question; I’ll be on the front lines somewhere.”
“So do I Admiral, so do I,” Russell said as he clapped James on the shoulder. “Your uncle would be proud of you. Though I imagine he’d hardly believe where we’ve all come to. In a few months you’ll be Emperor of the Human ra
ce. That would make him chuckle.”
“It certainly would,” James agreed. “It’s a pity he is not here. We could have used him. “
“On that we are of one accord,” Russell replied as the they walked into the hanger bay. “Now, you may get going, I’m sure I’ve taken enough of your time. Until the next Inner Council meeting.”
“Try not to do anything I wouldn’t,” James said as he shook Russell’s hand.
“I can’t make any promises,” Russell called out as James turned and moved towards his shuttle.
“Where to Admiral?” the shuttle pilot asked as James ascended the shuttle’s ramp and moved to take a seat beside the Flight Lieutenant.
James pulled out his datapad to check his schedule. He had missed a couple of minor meetings, though he had one more he would just be able to make. He would have to apologize to the other two, but he knew they would understand. “North Dakota,” he answered. “Grand Forks Air Force Base.” Formerly owned by the United Colonial States Air Force, the base had been taken over by Imperial Navy Research and Development, a branch of the Imperial Fleet Andréa had set up. There was some kind of top-secret demonstration he was scheduled to attend.