Imperial Command

by D. J. Holmes

  “We are under no illusions, defeating the Karacknids may take us decades. Yet we are committed to that fight. None of our species intend to allow ourselves to be enslaved. Since my journey into this sector of space, we have met and befriended the five Conclave species. They too are being threatened by the Karacknids. The last time I spoke with their leadership, they were committed to joining the struggle my species and our allies are in against the Karacknids. We now have a coalition of sixteen species arrayed against the Karacknids. I only know a little of your history with them. But I know you have much experience in fighting them. I understand that your species has been hiding and running from the Karacknids, if my species was alone and had the capability to flee, no doubt we would. Yet we are not alone. And this means there is a real chance to defeat the Karacknid Empire. Perhaps the first time there has been such a chance in their history. It may also be the last. If the Karacknids can conquer all of our colonies and add our technologies to theirs, they may expand their control across the entire galaxy. Sooner or later, even your city ships would have nowhere to hide. That is why I am here. I come offering the possibility of an alliance between our two species. We could share technologies, intelligence and, if you are willing, our warships can fight together. For together I believe we stand a chance of ending the Karacknids’ tyranny. As I have said, I do not believe such a path will be easy or short, but given what the Karacknids have done to my species and to yours and so many others, it is surely a path we who would be free must walk. That is why I am here, and I’m willing to answer whatever questions you may have.” Finished with her speech, Emilie almost cringed back as she waited to see what the two Mothers’ response would be.

  “Fine words,” Way-san said after a moment’s pause. “Your species’ fortitude and pride should be commended. However, whether there is wisdom or not in what you have said, we will determine.”

  “As I said, I am happy to answer whatever questions you have that may help you determine just that,” Emilie responded.

  “Then let us begin with what may be the most important question,” Way-san said. “What proof do you offer that would confirm anything you have said to us?”

  Emilie swallowed hard. She knew this was the weakest point of her presentation. Yet there was only one answer she could give. “Beyond what Captain Wal-sma is able to confirm with you about how we met, there is no evidence I can provide that would verify my words. My ship is no doubt hundreds of light years from here and all I have with me is my personal datapad. I can share the information on it with you, but you could not independently verify it. Ultimately, the only way you can ascertain the truth of my words is by sending your own representatives to my homeworld to speak with my leaders and those of the Varanni Alliance. That is what the Conclave species have chosen to do. Here and now, all I can do is provide you with enough reasons for that to be a worthwhile decision to make.”

  Way-san’s tentacles twitched. “You speak the truth in this matter. There is no evidence that could convince us. But you must recognize, without evidence it will be almost impossible for us to act on what you have come to say. We are open to further discussion however.”

  Emilie’s heart sank, but before she could really get disheartened, questions came at her thick and fast. “Let us turn to the war with the Karacknids,” Way-isal said. “You have obviously been away from your species’ homeworld for an extended duration of time. How long has it been?”

  “Fourteen months,” Emilie answered.

  “How many Karacknid ships were in the fleet that you say attacked your homeworld?” Way-isal followed up.

  “Over one thousand,” Emilie responded.

  The pattern of Way-isal’s tentacles movements changed. “That is a significant number of Karacknid ships. If your species truly defeated them, then your ships must indeed be powerful. Captain Wal-sma’s analysis of your ship would suggest that may be true.” For a second Emilie’s hope stirred. But it was only for a second. “Yet one thousand ships is but a tiny fraction of the Karacknids’ total strength,” Way-isal continued. “How do you know that in the time since you have left your species’ space, the Karacknids have not attacked again and completely crushed your people? For all you know, your ship may be the last warship your species has left. Certainly, the Karacknids have the strength to do what I suggest.”

  Emilie bit her lip. She could feel her anger growing. She was the one who had been abducted and taken all this way to meet with the two Mothers. The least they could do was be friendly and listen to her. Yet she knew her anger was coming from elsewhere. Way-isal had touched on her biggest fear. It was entirely plausible that the Karacknids had mustered a second fleet and destroyed Earth. Though Emilie feared that possibility, she could not let her fear dictate to her. “Your analysis is theoretically correct, I will grant that,” she began as she fought to keep her tone neutral. “But it does not take into account the wider strategic situation. We know the Karacknids are already involved in another war with an as yet unknown species. In addition, they have committed forces to hunting down your ships. Moreover, the Varanni Alliance owns a much larger area of space and their fleets are far larger and more powerful than my species’. When I left my homeworld, the Karacknids were amassing their fleets against the Alliance. It is unlikely that they have the ships to launch a second attack against my species so quickly.”

  “Yet it is possible,” Way-isal replied. “Or it may be that the Karacknids have left your species alone for now and have successfully launched an invasion of this Alliance you speak of. Perhaps they have been conquered. In which case I surmise your species will soon follow.”

  Emilie didn’t really have anything to say to that possibility other than, “It’s possible.”

  There were several seconds of silence before Way-san spoke. “For the moment, let’s assume that your species and the Varanni Alliance have not been conquered. You mentioned the possibility of opening up trade relations between our two species and even sharing technologies. You’ve spent more than a month on board Wayfarer, you must be somewhat familiar with our technologies by now. They are unlike any other species’ approach to technology that we have encountered. Far different from the kinds of technologies Captain Wal-sma tells us your ship appears to be built from. In what way do you think your technologies would aid us?”

  “That is a question that our and your scientists may be better placed to answer,” Emilie replied. “Though I believe we have stealth coating technologies that would help your ships hide from the negative photon sensors the Karacknids use to hunt you. I’m sure there are many other ways we could help one another. It is true, your technologies are very different from ours, but that means there may be areas where one of us excels that the other could benefit from.”

  “Except your ships and components and even your clothes are manufactured. They are built and not grown. The Kalassai will not succumb to such alien ways. Our ships, our components, everything we have is as much a part of our civilization as each of us are,” Way-san said. “It may be that you would benefit from our technologies, but I do not see how we would benefit from yours.”

  “Not all of our technologies focus on manipulating inanimate matter,” Emilie countered. “We grow many things. There are millions of species of what we call plants on our homeworld. Many of which we use in one way or another. We have also encountered many more organic lifeforms on other planets that we have studied and incorporated into our species’ wide range of scientific understanding and technological development. I am far from an expert in these things, but I’m sure we could help one another.”

  Way-san’s tentacles shifted into a pattern Emilie easily recognized. She was not happy. “We have not polluted the genetic make-up of our ships and technologies in the hundreds of years we have been exiled from our homeworld. We will not do so now.”

  Emilie found herself at a loss for words. She was taken aback by the force of Way-san’s attitude. She hadn’t detected any kind of aversion to Human technol
ogies from Wal-sma or any of the other Kalassai on Wayfarer. She didn’t know how to respond to Way-san’s objections, but it didn’t sound like there was a convincing response anyway. Her objections were ideological, not logical. Thinking on her feet, Emilie tried to change the topic. “Perhaps discussing technological exchanges is a mistake,” she admitted. “Your ways are unfamiliar to me. But there may be another way my species could help you. As I explained to Wal-sma, we travelled through a wormhole to come to your sector of space. My homeworld is thousands of light years from here. I know your species has been searching for a new world you can call home. It may be that we and our allies can help you. Between us we have explored tens of thousands of systems and there are hundreds of thousands more along our borders waiting to be explored.”

  “You have obviously been using your time with Wal-sma well Captain,” Way-isal said. “That is the one offer that you have made that intrigues us. Tell me, have you ever seen a gas giant like this?”

  Emilie didn’t see either of the Mothers activate any kind of technology, nevertheless the goo in between them swirled around and around until it formed a tight ball. Then it began to glow red. Moments later two planetary rings appeared. They were strange, stranger than anything Emilie had seen before. Instead of circling the planet’s equator, they were off kilter. Looking straight on at the planet, the rings formed an X where they met each other. Beside the planet, other particles formed into text. Emilie pulled out her datapad so that the Kulrean translation software could translate it. For a few seconds Emilie studied the information on the planet. Its atmosphere was unlike any she had seen before.

  “To be honest, I have not,” Emilie answered as she studied the image of the gas giant. “This is truly a unique world. It is your homeworld I presume? I understand now why you have struggled to find a new world to settle upon.”

  “If your species has not encountered such a world, then your offer of assistance is of little value to us,” Way-isal responded.

  “Hold on,” Emilie said as she instinctively raised a finger. “Just because I haven’t encountered one, doesn’t mean my species or our allies haven’t. I am not an astrophysicist. Let me check. I only have access to the systems my species has discovered and those in the immediate vicinity of our territory.” Emilie quickly typed a search parameter into her datapad. She was disappointed when nothing came back. There were no gas giants within Human space that even came close to what the Kalassai were looking for. She shook her head as she looked back up at the two mothers. “I’m sorry, my species has not encountered such a world. But that does not mean we cannot still help you.” As she spoke Emilie waved the datapad about. “I only have the worlds my species has discovered on here. Our neighbors, the Varanni and the Kulreans, have explored many, many more systems than we have. My ship’s computer has access to all that data. We may yet be able to help you.”

  “Your ship is not here Captain,” Way-isal said. “And so your offer must be placed in the same category as all the others you have made. Without any evidence, we have no reason to trust you or believe that what you’re saying is true.”

  “Why would I come all this way to lie to you?” Emilie protested.

  “For a number of reasons,” Way-isal suggested. “Perhaps, you covet our technologies and are here to steal them. Or perhaps you are at war with the Karacknids and you wish to trick us into confronting them openly so as to buy your own species time to survive, or perhaps even escape. You may have some other reason that we are not aware of…” Way-isal paused for a second as her tentacles stopped swaying. “I mean no offence Captain. I am not personally charging you with deception. But you must understand our positions. We have overseen each of our city ships for hundreds of your years. Our duty is to protect our species and preserve what remains of it. We hide because we want to survive. Because we must survive. The genetic information held within our city ships and within our people is the last remnants we have of our homeworld. We cannot risk our heritage. Not on such scant evidence as you are able to provide.”

  “Then send a delegation to my homeworld,” Emilie said desperately. “I can accompany Wayfarer or some other ship back to my space, or you can go to the Varanni or the Kulreans if you would prefer. You can see for yourselves that what I have said is true. Surely the opportunity to defeat the Karacknids is worth that much.”

  “The risks we take are ours to choose,” Way-isal replied. “We will not risk a ship on your word.”

  Emilie shook her head. “You are making a mistake. We can help you. We may very well have discovered a new homeworld that would suit you perfectly. Even if we haven’t, we and the Varanni have advanced knowledge of genetic engineering. We could help you build new ships, even new city ships for your people to live in.”

  “Sacrilegious!” Way-san barked so loud that Emilie backed away from the two Kalassai. “You are speaking blasphemy! We would never dilute our genetic heritage. Your words insult the honor and purity of our people.”

  Emilie quickly raised her hands. “I meant no insult Mothers. I have spoken out of turn I see.” Emilie searched for the right words to use. She had not picked up any indication from Wal-sma that the Kalassai had been religious. Yet from the fervor in Way-san’s voice, it was clear that was exactly what she was now dealing with. “I did not mean to insult your people, nor suggest that you carry out some impure action. I spoke out of ignorance and I apologize.”

  Way-isal swished her tentacles to move herself slightly in between Emilie and Way-san. “Your apology is accepted Captain. Way-san is one of our species’ four Prophetesses as well as Mother of her city ship. As prophetess she is charged with preserving the culture and heritage of our homeworld.”

  “Then I apologize again to you Prophetess,” Emilie said as she tilted her head to look around Way-isal. “I will not speak of such things again. But it is still possible that we may be able to help you find a new homeworld.”

  “I think our discussions have come to an end Captain,” Way-isal said. “We have listened to what you have to say. We appreciate the offers of help you have given us.” Way-isal turned to Way-san. Both of their tentacles quickly rippled back and forth. After ten seconds or so, Way-isal turned back to Emilie. “But we have decided to decline your offer of assistance. Without corroborating evidence, we cannot risk one ship or even the life of one Kalassai. Every one of our species who now lives is extremely precious to us. We will continue to hide from the Karacknids until we can find a world that we can call home.”

  Emilie had to fight to keep from shaking her head or showing any other signs of frustration. She tried the only approach she thought she had left. “I completely understand your desire for evidence. I know I have made some bold claims. Perhaps if Wayfarer returned me to my ship, I could bring some of the evidence you desire. I know you are nervous about allowing outsiders to visit your city ships. Wayfarer could take whatever evidence that you might like from my ship and bring it here.”

  “That is not possible Captain,” Way-san said, her tone now back to normal. “Your ship is no doubt long gone from the system Wayfarer encountered it in. Moreover the Karacknids now know that we had been hiding in those systems. We will not send one of our ships into harm’s way. The risks are too great.”

  Emilie’s mind jumped to an entirely new concern. “Then how am I to return home?” she asked.

  “You are not,” Way-isal replied simply. “You have seen our city ships. You know much about our way of life. You will both remain here. We will take care of you and meet you and your mate’s every need. But you will not be allowed to take our secrets out of this ship.”

  Emilie opened her mouth and closed it several times as she thought over what she wanted to say. Unbeknownst to her, her body had begun to shake. “You can’t,” she eventually got out. “You can’t keep me here! My species need me. We are at war.”

  “If that is truly the case, then your species has my sympathy,” Way-isal said. “But there is nothing you or we can do about that
now.”

  “There is!” Emilie said as her voice rose. She no longer had the self-control to contain her anger. “You can allow me to return home. Heck, the very least you could do would be to share your star maps with us. Even that would help us. Surely you do not want to stand by and watch the Karacknids conquer and enslave another species. Not after what they did to you.”