Warrior Chronicles 2: Warrior's Blood

by Shawn Jones

  “So I want two things from you all. Sciences, I want you to start brainstorming about how this crystal works and how to stop it. I also want R&D working on weapons that can help.”

  “Cort, I thought you were only in charge of our defense. Now you are acting as if you are in charge of all of us,” Doctor Verne said.

  Rhodes said, “Doctor, now isn’t the time for semantics.”

  “Doc, you are right,” Cort said, “and so is Chief. We are now facing a clear danger to humanity. We don’t know a lot about it, but it’s out there and I have to prepare now because we may not have a chance to survive if I don’t. But let me be clear about something with you all. I know some of you question Doctor Verne’s motivation, and maybe even his commitment to this colony. But to me, he is clearly more committed to our success than any of the rest of you are. After the last attack on Oxia, you stopped questioning my judgement. Doctor Verne didn’t. He continues to question my motivation even though I suspect he knows I am right. He keeps asking because he wants to make sure I have my head on straight. He knows as well as I do that our survival depends on my ability to defend us.”

  “Thank you, Cort,” Verne said.

  Cort moved on, saying, “Kim, get more of the man-portable railguns built. I need to go now, but have you guys ever tried to change your speech patterns for any length of time? It’s not easy. I almost wish I had told Speral who I was. ‘Wraith’s’ manner of speaking is irritating as hell. He sounds like you people. I’ll see you all soon.”

  The conference ended and Cort started to stand when Kim pushed him back down into his seat saying, “Not so fast. Why are you taking a squad of men with you?”

  “Grandstanding. I’m going to try and get some concessions from this ‘Collaborative Government’. To do so, I want them to think Wraith is more than just a substitute for Cort.”

  “Why not just go as Cort. That would have more impact. Just tell them that Wraith’s information was important enough that you felt the need to join her.”

  “How quickly can you break the HAWC down? Wait, what about strapping me to her ship? Like I did when Rhodes brought me here.”

  “You have to ask Speral about that. From what I know about the suit, it would work. I don’t know about her ship though.”

  Cort opened a channel to Speral. “Speral, this is Cort Addison. Is there any way to fit me into your ship?”

  “Cort Addison, no.”

  “Okay, Speral, what about securing me to the outside of your ship.”

  “Cort Addison, please wait for my reply.”

  Five minutes passed before Speral spoke again. “Cort Addison, securing you to the hull of my ship will pose no threat to the ship or to you. The transition will not be affected. The transition is spherical and will encompass your armor. Do you wish to accompany me?”

  “There will be five of us, Speral. Four will travel inside with you. I will be secured to the hull.”

  “Cort Addison, I believe that will be appropriate. There are locations on the hull used to secure the vessel. You may use those locations to secure yourself to the ship.”

  Cort ended the conversation and turned to Kim. “Woman of the house! Bring me my other sword!”

  “Bastard,” Kim said, slapping him playfully.

  “No,” Cort said with a straight face. “Not the bastard, the one you had made for the HAWC.”

  --

  Cort was curious how this would go. He recognized the feel of the ship lifting off, but had no idea how the transition would happen or what it would be like. As he lay strapped to the top of Speral’s ship, he saw the top of Olympus Mons disappear below the edge of the craft and remembered a childhood trip to Colorado with his parents. They had taken ‘the scenic route’, like fathers throughout time had done. As they drove up the narrow road curving to the top of Mount Capulin, Cort’s mother leaned all the way over the center console of the small car, refusing to even look over the edge of the road. The memory made Cort smile, wondering his mother would think now, with her youngest son strapped to the top of a starship.

  At first, Cort didn’t realize it had happened, but the stars had shifted. “Speral, did we just transition?”

  “Cort Addison, yes we did.”

  “How soon until we arrive at your Collaborative Government?”

  “Cort Addison, we will land in ten of your minutes.”

  “Thank you. Speral, can you tell me how you control gravity on your ship?”

  “Cort Addison, it would be best to wait until you have made arrangements with our leadership.”

  “I understand. Thank you, Speral.”

  “Cort Addison, why do you thank me? I refused your request.”

  “True, but you were…” Cort paused. When he continued he said, “The experience of riding outside of your ship reminded me of something from my past. It was a pleasant memory.”

  “Cort Addison, you’re welcome. The planet we are landing on has a different atmosphere than you are accustomed to. It is gaseous, but much heavier than your species or mine would consider acceptable. The gravity of this planet is similar to that of my own. It will be nearly twice what you are used to on your fourth planet. Will this be a problem for your species?”

  “No, Speral. We will be fine long as we are not here too long.”

  Cort felt the ship touch down. A minute later, Jeff Pence was on top of the ship unstrapping the HAWC. “It’s a little odd walking around here, sir. The higher gravity feels if we are carrying a lot of extra weight. I don’t think it will affect CONDOR performance, but it may affect the accuracy of the MATs if we have to use them.”

  “Good point, Jeff. I hope we don’t have to use our weapons, but if we do make sure everyone knows to aim a little high for long shots. Also, I want everyone running full sensors. I want everything recorded.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Cort dropped from the top of the ship and waited for Pence to join him. The other three CONDORs joined them before the small group followed Speral across a large landing area. It hadn’t occurred to any of the group that there might be other ships. Most of the craft seemed very sensible, shaped like hemispheres or cubes or pyramids, but some were outlandish. Pence remarked on one apparent craft that was landing as they passed it. It was cylindrical, about forty meters long, and less than a meter in diameter. Most remarkably though, when it landed, three spheres rolled out of one end of the craft and joined the procession leaving the landing area.

  “Speral, how many species are represented in the Collaborative Government?” Cort asked.

  “Cort Addison, currently, there are seventy-two voting species. In addition to the voting species, there are sixty species which are bound by the Collaboration. One hundred and forty species trade within the Collaboration and we have seeded seven hundred species throughout the galactic arm. Those species came from approximately twenty-three hundred planets in approximately four hundred star systems. Some of the star systems are binary.”

  Cort was surprised by Speral’s answer. “That was the most complete answer you have ever given me.”

  “Cort Addison, yes it was. You have placed additional importance on this journey. I feel it is important that you have as much information as possible regarding the Collaborative Government, so that you may understand how important it is that you help us to ensure the safety of the galactic arm.”

  “I see. Are none of the species able to fight the crystals?”

  “Cort Addison, no. To become a member of the Collaborative Government, a species must agree not to develop technology that can be used as a weapon against any other affiliated species.”

  “Then our species will not be able to join the Collaboration?” Cort asked.

  “Cort Addison, your species cannot join us. A species must be bound by the Collaboration for three hundred of its native orbits before it can be considered for inclusion in the list of voting species. This is to ensure it has resolved all internal conflict to its species. Your species is needed to comba
t the crystals. Therefore, you cannot be considered for membership or affiliation until this conflict is resolved.”

  Pence opened a private channel to Cort. “Sir, it sounds like they need us for mercenaries. They don’t want to fight their war, so they need us to do it for them.”

  “Agreed, but we may not have a choice. We have to ensure the safety of our people. If that means fighting for the Collaboration, then that’s what we do.” Switching to the open channel again, Cort said, “Speral, you told Wraith that you once transported another species to fight the crystals. What happened to that species?”

  “Cort Addison, that species was destroyed by the crystals. They were seeded on another planet, but once a species is mathematically extinct, we will not utilize them for other purposes. If your species meets the same end, you will be seeded to another planet.”

  “How did the crystals destroy them?”

  “Cort Addison, I do not know. That information is unknown. The species was transitioned into a system that was under attack. Shortly after their arrival, we lost contact with them. According to an evacuation vessel, the ship transporting them exploded due to an impact with an unknown object of non-natural origin. We have arrived.”

  Sixteen

  Unknown Planet, 1500 Light Years From Earth

  The structure before them looked like an arena. It was a large, multi-level, circular structure that seemed to have a retractable roof. Speral led Cort and his team to the focal area in the center and told them to wait for her. She walked into the underside of the structure and reappeared on the first level near a stage-like platform at one edge of what Cort could only compare to a playing field. Two large tanks, similar to fish bowls, rolled onto the stage and stopped. They were filled with clear liquid and each contained a different species.

  The first looked like some form of octopus or squid. Perhaps two meters tall, it had eight tentacles and was ‘standing’ on two of them. Cort sensed incredible intelligence behind the creature’s four dark eyes. The second creature immediately reminded Cort of The Creature From the Black Lagoon. It was easily three meters tall, scaled, bipedal, and had large webbed feet. Its hands were more proportionate, but still webbed. The bones of both feet and hands resembled talons.

  Behind the two aquatic species, three more aliens moved to the stage. Two wore helmeted suits that Cort suspected were for atmospheric reasons. Both were small, one being less than a meter tall, and the other was about one and a half meters. The smaller of the two was four-legged, but because of its suit Cort wasn’t able to discern much more. The suit that the second one wore, however, was transparent. The occupant had an exoskeleton and two legs, but did not seem to have any other appendages. Cort wondered how it could function, but didn’t have much time to ponder any one species before him.

  The last alien on the stage was light beige, insectoid creature. It was not wearing any kind of protective gear, and was only partially erect. Cort estimated its body length at two and a half meters, its upper portion erect and the lower half on the ground. It used eight legs to move, with four more upper legs that it seemed to use like arms. Its two eyes protruded laterally from what must be its head and seemed to have the ability to look in nearly all directions.

  The creatures on the stage, as well as nearly every other occupant of the arena were focused entirely on Cort and the other four humans. Cort opened the tactical channel and assigned each of the men a target from the stage. “If this goes bad, we target the stage, then I will clear a hole for us in the structure. We return to Speral’s ship and will assess the situation there. Clear?”

  Everyone acknowledged their targets and instructions as Speral seemed to address the aliens on the stage. Cort didn’t know what she said, but when she finished, the insect moved off of the platform and straight for Cort. Pence and his team immediately raised their weapons and stepped between Cort and the approaching alien.

  “Stop where you are,” Cort told the alien.

  “Very well,” the creature said as it stopped ten meters from Cort and his team. “You are Death, I presume. You can address me as Lap. I am the chief of our collaboration.”

  “Lap, I am Cort Addison of the Ares Federation. I’m not called Death. It is coincidence that my name means death in Speral’s language.”

  “Your federation is designated as planet 432-4 in our nomenclature. How would you like that designation changed?”

  Cort immediately recognized the system used to designate planets and said, “In our language, the star of our system is known as Sol. The names of our planets in order are as Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and the outermost large orbital is known as Pluto. 432-3 is our native planet Earth. I am the Protector of 432-4, known as Mars.”

  Lap said something to the others then spoke in English again. “The names of your planets have been added to our records. Their new designations have been accepted. Will you help us to stop the crystals?”

  “Lap, I need much more information about the conflict and the enemy before I can decide that. I’m here to gather that information. I also need to know how my people will benefit from aiding you.”

  “I understand. If you do not aid us, it is likely that eventually the crystals will reach Sol, and your species will have to fight them on your own.”

  “It seems we will have to fight them on our own anyway. Speral says that your collective government forbids offensive weaponry and that even if we help you, we will not be allowed to join your group.”

  “This is true. But the crystal entity will be much larger by then and much more difficult to defeat. It would be in all of our interests for you to fight it now, rather than later.”

  “There will need to be greater benefit to our people in order for us to join in your defense.”

  “How do you wish to be rewarded?” Lap asked.

  “Not rewarded. We need certain technology to insure that we are able to effectively fight the crystals. First we need the ability to communicate in real time. That is, between star systems.”

  “Agreed. What else?”

  “All information you have on the crystals. We must learn everything we can about it be able to fight it effectively. We also need access to your defensive technology,” Cort said.

  “Agreed.”

  “We need the technology to travel to and from the infected systems.”

  “We will transport you as needed,” Lap said.

  “That isn’t good enough, Lap. We want the technology to transport ourselves.”

  “That is not possible. It is forbidden to share that technology with unaffiliated races.”

  “Then we cannot help you.” Cort turned to Speral and said, “Please take us home, Speral.”

  “We are not done meeting with you, Cort. Until the meeting is over you may not leave.”

  Cort’s railgun appeared over one shoulder. The rest of the team took combat stances with their weapons at ‘high-ready’, pointing toward their assigned targets. Cort spoke. “Are we prisoners, Lap?”

  “You may not leave until our meeting is over,” Lap repeated.

  “Let’s go, squad.” Cort moved toward the entrance they had used to enter the arena. His team deployed in a diamond formation around him, sweeping all directions.

  “How will you leave the planet?” Lap asked.

  Without looking back, Cort said, “We are going to destroy all of your ships except Speral’s. Then we are going to use it to return to our world. Speral knows that I have used her transition system before, in a manner that not even her people can.”

  “Then why do you need our technology?”

  “Clearly I don’t, now. I am taking a ship. And any ship which enters our system will be destroyed. Goodbye, Lap.” Cort and the others walked out of the arena.

  As they approached the landing area, Speral spoke to Cort. “Cort Addison, please do not take my ship. I will return you to Mars.”

  “You have until I’m secured to your hull. At that time, I will ord
er my escort to take control of it.”

  Cort lifted one of Pence’s men to the top of Speral’s ship as Pence and the other three guarded the area. Speral arrived as the man was securing Cort’s waist to the hull. “Cort Addison, I have been told to convince you to return to the meeting.”

  “Speral, I have stated the first of my terms. If your government will not meet them there is no reason to continue the discussion. Please return us to our planet.”

  “Cort Addison, please. You must help us.”

  “No, Speral. I must protect my people. That is all I must do. Anything else I choose to do will be on my terms. Your government cannot ask for my help without meeting my requirements. I am not bound by your laws. In fact, I cannot even participate in your government, trade with your peoples, or benefit from your advancements. You want me to fight your war, yet you offer no incentive for me to do so. Take me back to my planet now, Speral. And if one single ship from this government ever enters our system again, I will destroy it without warning.”