Incursion: Merkiaari Wars Book 5

by Mark E. Cooper

  “The president and his mate will arrive at three local time, dinner is at seven,” Kahn said.

  Tei’Varyk flicked his ears to show he’d heard his aide, and forced his thoughts back to duty. He stepped away from the window but tripped on the hem of his robe. It was too much on top of everything else. He snarled. In a fit of temper, he yanked it over his head.

  Kahn thought it uproariously funny.

  Tei’Varyk bundled the cloth into a ball and launched it like a torpedo. It struck Kahn in the face.

  “That was beneath you,” Kahn said, and retrieved the robe from the floor.

  “Serves you right. I detest wearing that thing. Burn it or bury it. Do whatever you want with it! Just don’t make me wear it.”

  “Walking around the enclave in your fur is fine, Tei. No one here minds, but the Humans expect you to wear it.”

  “I know, but they’re suffocating me. I’m not an elder. I’m too young!”

  “What do you want to wear? I’ll fetch it for you.”

  “I want a pressure suit and a ship. I want my life back!”

  Kahn remained wisely silent.

  Tei’Varyk chuffed in frustration. Even if he asked to be replaced today the message would take seasons to reach Kajetan. Over an Earth orbit would pass before a replacement arrived, and that assumed her willingness to send one straight away. He was quite sure she wouldn’t be.

  Kahn was still waiting.

  “I’ll wear it for the Humans,” Tei’Varyk said. “Dinner at seven. What else?”

  “As I said your guests will arrive at three. I’ve rescheduled all your appointments from this afternoon to tomorrow, but there’s a lot to do before we’re done.”

  “What first?”

  Kahn put aside the robe and reviewed his notes on a compad. “Sumitomo Space Industries. Our negotiations aren’t going well. The price keeps going up, due they say, to increasing demand.”

  Tei’Varyk indicated a place to sit. Kahn chose the closest mat and settled himself at the conference table. Tei’Varyk joined him and took the compad to read.

  Sumitomo owned the best civilian shipyard facilities in the Sol system, and produced the finest cargo ships available bar none. Producing the finest, and in the case of the Nova Class, largest ships of their type, meant Sumitomo could charge whatever it wished. Even so, Tei’Varyk didn’t need the Harmonies to know Kazuo Tsokuda, Sumitomo’s CEO, was up to something.

  Demand for cargo ships had declined in part due to the Red One Alert. Portents of war did tend to suppress trade, and the economy was already suffering from what Humans called the jitters. The economy was heading for a downturn. Everyone knew it. Those in a position to pivot had already done so by redirecting their funds into more lethal investments such as Merki-killing drone technologies. The military industrial complex was the only beneficiary of war.

  “What are our options?” Tei’Varyk said. “I know you have a plan.”

  “Did the Harmonies reveal that?”

  “No, your past performance.”

  Kahn laughed. “You’re too kind, but you’re right, there is a plan. We should break off negotiations without warning or explanation. Right away.”

  “We should?”

  “Yes. Kazuo believes we’re desperate for those ships.”

  “He’s right, we are.”

  “He is right,” Kahn admitted. “Everyone knows we need them. He thinks he can get away with raising the price on the ignorant aliens.”

  Tei’Varyk laughed. “A false impression you reinforced no doubt.”

  Kahn flicked his ears in agreement. “It wasn’t hard. A few bad deals here, a few there, and the unscrupulous dealers started circling.”

  “Easy meat for our own hunters.”

  “Exactly. It worked out very well. The dishonest ones were exposed and we gained some friends at the same time. Some of the Humans took pity on our poor traders and secretly went out of their way to give honest advice—sometimes to their own detriment.”

  “Interesting,” Tei’Varyk said. Weeding out dishonourable traders boded well for long term success. “You rewarded our new friends?”

  “I licensed them to trade directly with Harmony. They’re our preferred suppliers.”

  “Very good work. What of the ships we need?”

  “There are two Nova Class cargo ships nearing completion at the yards. They were ordered by Busan Interstellar Inc., but the company can’t afford the final payments. If it defaults, and my sources say it will, Busan loses its holding fee.”

  “How much?”

  “Twenty-three billion, with another twelve billion to pay on completion.”

  Tei’Varyk’s ears went back. “A lot of money to lose. You propose to lend Busan the credits and lease the ships from them?”

  “A good idea, but no. The company isn’t well run. I believe it will go out of business within five orbits. I propose we back Busan’s purchase of those ships, and then buy them at a discount upon completion. Busan’s directors will be grateful not to lose their deposit.”

  “And you think they’ll agree?”

  “I know they will, Tei. I broached the subject before bringing this to your attention. The loan to finish the ships will be contingent upon them selling the ships to us. We’ll agree a fixed price before transferring the funds.”

  “Proceed along those lines,” Tei’Varyk said. “What of Sumitomo?”

  “They don’t have any orders pending for their Nova Class vessels. I bribed someone to copy their order book.”

  “I don’t remember authorising such an action.”

  “I didn’t ask,” Kahn admitted. “I was very discreet.”

  “Be sure you remain so. It could tarnish our relations with the Humans.”

  “I’ll be careful, but they don’t seem inclined to grant us the same courtesy.”

  Tei’Varyk flicked his ears in agreement. “We’re trading for our people’s survival, while they’re doing it for financial gain.”

  “After we take delivery of the ships, Sumitomo’s directors will be more amenable to new clients. They’ll not want empty slips at their yards. We should be able to strike a good deal on another pair of Novas.”

  “Proceed as you’ve outlined,” Tei’Varyk said and handed the compad back. “What else do you have?”

  “News from home.”

  “Go on.”

  “Kajetan made a broadcast to announce her decision to undergo nano-treatment.”

  “Thank the Harmonies. What changed her mind?”

  “We have a copy of her broadcast, but she doesn’t give a reason. It’s easy to guess who persuaded her, if not exactly how.”

  “Oh?”

  “Kajetan received the Blind Hunter shortly before the announcement and honoured her with a private audience. No one knows what was said, but later that day the Blind Hunter applied to join the warrior caste. As soon as the news broke, the-clan-that-is-not invited her to join its ranks as well. She accepted.”

  “You believe Tei’Shima and Kajetan made a bargain of some kind?”

  “There’s no doubt about that, Tei. Before letting the Human healers treat her, Kajetan ordered Tei’Shima and Kazim to Pandora. It’s being explained away as a fact-finding mission, but everyone knows it’s a pretext. Kajetan is vexed and wants them out of her sight. Despite that, Tei’Shima had the last laugh.”

  “How so?”

  “She called upon the council to honour Shan obligations to the Alliance by sending warriors with her to Pandora.”

  Tei’Varyk laughed. “I like her already.”

  Kahn’s ears waved jauntily. “She does sound fun. There was resistance to the idea from Tei in the other castes. The warriors were almost in open revolt until Tei’Shima invoked her status as the Blind Hunter and asked for volunteers. She was inundated with requests.”

  “She’s the Blind Hunter. Of course my caste will follow where she leads. We owe her a blood debt.”

  “Exactly. Kajetan was out of contact rec
eiving treatment at the time, and unable to intervene. Isn’t it strange how she just happened to order Tei’Shima to Pandora before she left?”

  Tei’Varyk laughed. It wasn’t strange at all. “So our warriors are on their way to Pandora despite all the opposition.”

  “They’ll be there by now. Drones are much slower than ships.”

  That was an inconvenient truth. News from home travelled slowly, and meant Kajetan would be safely back in control by now. Tei’Varyk wondered what her deal with the Blind Hunter entailed beyond the obvious, and whether the elders knew Kajetan had manoeuvred them into doing her bidding.

  Again.

  Kajetan always had the final word of decision, but by using the Blind Hunter to further her schemes she’d encroached on Tei business this time. That was fine by him. Tei’Varyk had become increasingly frustrated of late with members of his clan, but there was danger in bending tradition too far. The people loved Kajetan, but that didn’t mean she could do no wrong; especially where the clan-that-is-not was concerned. She needed Tei cooperation to enact her policies. If they turned belligerent, she’d be powerless in all but name.

  “Father!” Jafari cried as she raced into the room at top speed. “Mother says we have special visitors. Humanssss!”

  “Careful!” Tei’Varyk said.

  Jafari tried to slow, but she was moving too fast and slid along on the lacquered wood of the floor. Her little legs became a blur as she tried to stop by running in the opposite direction to her slide.

  Kahn laughed at the sight.

  It did look peculiar.

  Tei’Varyk intercepted his cub before she could collide with the table. He scooped her up and threw her into the air in one motion before catching her little wriggling body.

  “Again!” Jafari shouted.

  “Please,” Tei’Varyk scolded.

  “Pleaaasssse!” Jafari yelled gleefully, already on her way up. She performed a neat back flip in the air and came down in the perfect pounce position.

  “Claws in!” Tei’Varyk cried and winced in anticipation as he caught her.

  “A born hunter that one,” Kahn said.

  “I is sorry, papa,” Jafari said full of remorse. She released her claws from his hide and patted his arm. “Ouchy.”

  “Yes. Ouchy.”

  Kahn chuffed in amusement. “Enough of work. Time to play.”

  “Play! Play! Play!” Jafari yelled. She leapt out of his arms and headed for the door. “Chase me!”

  “Yes, Tei. Chase her.”

  Tei’Varyk gave Kahn a mock glare, but he was more than ready to quit work for the day. He dropped to all fours and trotted away in pursuit. He was careful to let Jafari maintain a lead. She reached the foyer and let out a little roar. It was so adorable. He thought his heart would burst with pride when it brought her sibs in a rush to investigate.

  Taryn led the war-band and signalled her sibs to surround their father. Jafari yelled gleefully, and took her place in the formation. She’d been the lure in Taryn’s plan, and Tei’Varyk had fallen for the trap.

  Tei’Varyk paused where he was, and watched his cubs circling their prey. Kaliq darted in first, and Tei’Varyk turned to face him. Kaliq was always the first. Too eager some might say, but as the only male in his war-band, he was the obvious choice. Males were slower, but generally a little larger. It made no difference today. The cubs were less than an orbit old and tiny in comparison to their father.

  Tei’Varyk played his part of a cornered Shkai’ra, and let Kaliq distract him. His cub yipped in surprise when he realised his father was face on and scrambled out of range. Sensible. A real Shkai’ra would have formidable weapons. Face on they were deadly.

  Kaliq evaded his father’s make-believe spurs, and Kemina darted in. She thumped her little fists into Tei’Varyk’s unprotected flanks, careful to keep her claws sheathed, and dashed clear as he spun to spear her with his pretend horns.

  “Ah!” Tei’Varyk cried. “First blood to Kemina, but she missed my hamstring.”

  Taryn darted in and back out without striking to reclaim his attention. Her sibs struck from behind at the same moment. Jafari managed a creditable effort, and tagged his back thigh. In a real fight he’d be bleeding badly from that strike. It might even have been enough to bleed him out on a hunt. After Jafari, Kaliq came in again, followed by Verina this time. Verina struck true, but she owed the chance to Kaliq.

  “Yes!” Tei’Varyk cried. “Well done, Kaliq!” His cub hadn’t attacked. He’d been purposefully slow in his retreat to give his sib her chance. “Excellent hit, Verina.”

  “Back away!” Taryn ordered and her sibs obeyed.

  Tei’Varyk played his part. He staggered and let his legs collapse. Taryn struck the final blow to his throat. Her sibs let their war leader take the kill.

  “Well done all of you,” Tei’Varyk said. “You killed me in heroic manner, but I’m too stringy to eat. Your mother will still have to feed you.”

  “We win! We win! We win!” the cubs chanted and chased each other. They were still full of energy, and started wrestling.

  “Lying about again?” Tarjei said as she watched the younglings at play. “Where’s your robe?”

  “I’m vanquished, not lying about.”

  “Go be vanquished outside. Take them to the meadow and keep them busy while I prepare for our visitors. Remember them?”

  Tei’Varyk rose onto two legs. He bowed, just a little mockingly. “As you command, my love.”

  He rounded up his cubs, grabbing Jafari by the scruff to pull her off Kaliq whom she’d just succeeded in pinning to the floor.

  “We have new orders from high command. To the meadow!” Tei’Varyk cried, and released Jafari to join her sibs.

  Tarjei chuffed in amusement.

  “Yay!” the younglings cried and headed for the exit in a rush.

  * * *

  27 ~ Honoured Guests

  Shan Enclave, New Hampshire, Earth

  At the appointed time Tei’Varyk donned his robe to greet his honoured guests. The cares of the day weren’t forgotten, but he’d relegated them to the back of his mind as he waited with Tarjei on the steps of the residence.

  Kahn stood to one side with the rest of the enclave’s staff to watch proceedings and keep an eye on the cubs. The younglings were very excited. They’d met Humans before but they were still a novelty despite the secret service people and the Humans First protesters.

  “Hu-mans yes! Sha-an, no! Hu-mans yes! Sha-an, no!” the protesters chanted from just beyond the gates. “Hu-mans yes! Sha-an, no! Hu-mans yes! Sha-an, no!”

  Tarjei growled under her breath. “I thought we’d solved this.”

  “You did. These are outsiders here for the President’s visit. They’ll lose interest when he departs.”

  The local members of the Humans First Movement had lost their enthusiasm for protest when Tarjei invited them into the enclave to meet the cubs. The newsies were invited to record the meeting and the tour she’d arranged.

  It had been an inspired idea that defused much of the protester’s fear of their alien neighbours. Pictures of the cubs were still trending on Friendbook months after the tour. Thank the harmonies none of them were taken over dinner. Humans thought Shan cubs were cute and cuddly. Blood and raw meat probably wouldn’t have worked as well.

  Tei’Varyk’s ears pricked as the chant changed to a new one.

  “Shan go home! Shan go home! Shan go home!”

  Not an option, though he’d personally be delighted to oblige them.

  The gates swung open to allow the President’s cavalcade to enter and the crowd surged. Their shouts grew louder and more heated, but they were held back by uniformed police and the secret service.

  The third car in the five-strong convoy carried the President’s party. It stopped at the bottom of the steps to allow President Dyachenko and his mate to exit. Tei’Varyk and Tarjei stepped forward to greet them.

  “Welcome to our home,” Tei’Varyk said with
a bow, though it felt like a fiction. It wasn’t home. It was exile. A prison. “May you live in harmony.”

  President Dyachenko smiled and shook hands with Tei’Varyk and Tarjei in the Shan manner. Ludmilla did the same but added a hug for Tarjei. Shan thrived on touch. Hugging was a very Shan-like gesture. Tei’Varyk wouldn’t have minded one, but Ludmilla limited herself to Tarjei.

  “And these are the little ones I’ve read so much about,” Ludmilla said beaming at the extremely well-behaved cubs. “They’re adoooorable,” she cooed. “You have to let me take them home with me, Tarjei.”

  Tarjei didn’t attack. She knew Ludmilla didn’t really mean it. “They’re being extra good for you.”

  “I’m sure that can’t be true. I bet they’re always like this.”

  Kahn and the rest of the staff laughed. Shan younglings were inquisitive minds jammed into bodies bursting with energy. They had to be watched constantly because they grew so fast. A cub unable to walk upright could easily be sprinting on two legs a few cycles later. They could literally change overnight.

  Ludmilla knelt there on the steps and held out her hands as if to scoop all the cubs into one big hug. Before Tei’Varyk could move they were on her in a pack.

  Dyachenko laughed as five bundles of tail-wiggling joy mobbed his mate.

  The President’s detail didn’t seem worried. More fool them. They hadn’t seen the younglings hunting. Tarjei looked close to panic. If her cubs killed the President’s mate there would be no end of trouble.

  Kahn edged closer, and Tei’Varyk shot him a look. Be ready, that look said. Kahn flicked his ears. They’d had to deal with pack behaviour from the cubs before. Kahn would grab Taryn by the scruff to remove their leader, and Tei’Varyk would deal with Kaliq. Kaliq was a precocious trouble-maker. The others would calm down with their leader and second out of the way.

  Ludmilla rose to her feet cradling Jafari in her arms. She buried her face in the cub’s pelt as if scent marking her like a Shan. Jafari was a good choice. She had the sweetest temperament. It was too early to say for sure but Tei’Varyk thought she might become a healer come her choosing time.