Merkiaari Wars: 01 - Hard Duty

by Mark E. Cooper

  “You are certain, Tei?” Tei’Unwin asked. “Really certain they mean us no harm?”

  “I’m certain of nothing. Never am I certain beyond some small doubt. You are the same or you would still be Kon’Unwin, but I feel they are not an immediate threat to us. I have been given gifts, and I have spoken with the female whose name is,” Tei’Varyk paused and tried to sound the alien name. “Brenda. Her mate is James. I have been gifted with a device that turns my words into Human speech. They have the same devices to turn their speech into ours. It’s not a perfect translation, but the errors are small enough for understanding.”

  “Humanssss?” Tei’Unwin sounded the strange name, but he garbled the last syllable. “They are not like the Murderers?”

  “No, they are very different. They’re much smaller and carry no weapons on their persons. They have no fangs or claws.” He hesitated. “They say they came to save us from the Murderers… I believe them.”

  The command deck was silent, which was not good. Tei’Varyk looked around and saw complete disbelief on every face except Tarjei. She looked afraid for him, and worse, of him also.

  “Tei…” Tei’Unwin began uncertainly. “May I have leave to speak with Kajika?”

  Tei’Varyk flicked his ears. “You have my leave.”

  Tei’Unwin bowed and left in a scrabble of claws. He was in a hurry to verify Tei’Varyk’s words, or refute them.

  Tei’Varyk looked around at his crew’s worried faces. They deserved more from him. “I know you doubt me. I have given the Humans nothing but my word that I will speak to the elders about our meeting. The Tei of the ship we have been chasing will not allow us to capture him; he will destroy him first. I would do the same if I was he. That ship has FTL capability beyond any doubt. The Human Tei will never allow us to take him.”

  “Then we should destroy him,” Kon’stanji said. “Surely?” he added with his ears at half-mast.

  “So, to, does Kajika advise me. I see…” Tei’Varyk said quietly and his crew leaned forward with baited breath. “I see perhaps too much in these Humans, but the elders will decide. The Humans were attacked, as we were, by the Merkiaari. Eighty Human worlds were devastated. Eighty. Do you see what that means? I see a chance for our people to go out into the void and begin rebuilding the Harmony of Shan bigger and stronger than ever. I see Humans tracking down the Murderers with us and destroying them utterly. That’s what I see.”

  “And what do the Humans see, Tei?” Tarjei asked.

  “They see strength in numbers, I would judge. They came to warn and protect us, but I would have them help us learn, so that we might protect ourselves. We are not cubs. I would see us out there among the stars as equals.”

  * * *

  16~Contact

  Aboard Chakra, at station keeping, Shan Inner Belt

  Tei’Varyk chose his personal chambers to discuss the situation with the Humans. Besides James and Brenda, Tarjei and Tei’Unwin were also present. Strictly speaking, Tarjei should not have been invited. She had neither the rank nor the experience to warrant her inclusion, but he valued her insights. She was here because he wanted her close, and he was Tei for Chakra. If Tei’Unwin didn’t like it, he would keep silent if he knew what was good for him. Tei’Varyk had put up with more than enough questioning of his authority. He would allow no more of it.

  “Your people would accept this?” Tarjei said.

  “They would ### it,” James said excitedly.

  Tarjei flicked her ears in annoyance at the garbled translation. The Humans did not understand her signal of displeasure of course.

  “Say again.”

  Brenda tried first. “They happy if Shan do this thing.”

  Tei’Varyk winced at the static coming from his earpiece. Brenda had spoken the name of the race in Shan, and the translator had not understood her mangled attempt.

  “How many Humanssss…” Tei’Unwin said trying to think of a simple way to ask his question.

  “How many against it?” James offered and Tei’Unwin gratefully accepted that. “We have two hundred and thirty-four worlds, Tei. ### one ### billions of Humans. I ### tell you ### ### figure.”

  Brenda added her thoughts. “Only fifty-eight worlds ### against coming here.”

  “Only fifty-eight?” Tei’Varyk said slowly. Did he have that right? “Only?” he said exchanging a concerned look with Tarjei. “These fifty-eight would stop us?”

  “No,” James and Brenda said together, but James went on. “One hundred and seventy-six in favour of us coming here, Tei. It is enough.”

  “Your elders allow this?” Tarjei said in dismay. “You do not care about the fifty-eight worlds against us?”

  “We care, but the Alliance is ### by ### vote. All worlds agree to ### by a ### vote. You see?”

  Tei’Varyk believed he understood. Two hundred and thirty four elders led the Alliance, but as with everyone, they did not always agree. The Shan system was better. Kajetan always spoke the final word of decision. The other elders helped her to decide, but she, and only she, decided what was to be done.

  “I understand,” Tei’Varyk said. “We have two worlds. We have two votes?”

  “Ah… no, Tei. The twin worlds of the Shan are…” James looked flustered and Brenda spoke up.

  “All Alliance systems have one vote. Your system is the only one with two ### worlds that we ### ever discovered, but the pattern is set. One system, one vote.”

  Tei’Varyk thought that was probably best. Two votes might mean Child of Harmony voting against Harmony at some future time. He could not conceive of a situation that might warrant it, but best to rule it out now.

  “What of our fleet?” Tei’Unwin said. “We will not give up our ships.”

  Tei’Varyk couldn’t prevent his shock from betraying itself at the thought. His ears plastered themselves against his head, and his nostrils flared as if facing into a strong wind. He was embarrassed when his lack of control allowed his tail to wind itself around his leg. A cub of two orbits could control himself better. He took a deep breath and forced himself to relax. His tail uncurled slowly, and he was finally able to listen to James. Thankfully, Tei’Unwin was too intent on the Humans to notice his immature reaction.

  “All our worlds ### their own soldiers, but there is only one Alliance navy—” James began.

  “We will not give up our ships,” Tei’Varyk snapped.

  James raised a hand. “You won’t have to, Tei. Your fleet is yours to do with as you wish, but I hope ### ### will join it to ours to protect us all. We will help you build bigger and better ships; ships with FTL capability. Do you want this?”

  “Very much,” Tei’Varyk said and the others agreed. “Very much, but we will not give up what we have without a fight.”

  “Nor should you,” James said but Brenda did not look happy.

  “Brenda does not agree?” Tarjei said picking up the Human’s scent. She was not in harmony.

  “I agree you should not give up your weapons, but why ### we ### talk of war and hurting? Why not talk about nice things?”

  “Such as?” Tarjei encouraged.

  “### for instance.”

  “What is nanotech?” Tei’Varyk asked sounding the Human word carefully.

  “What is the average lifespan of your people, Tei?”

  What did that have to do with anything? “Fifty orbits,” he said and wondered at the shock on the Humans’ faces. “Kajetan is very old. She is sixty one orbits, but that is very rare.”

  Brenda nodded. “Through the use of ###, James and I ### live one hundred and fifty years, and ### even more. ### is ### ### ### improved all the time. A standard year is equal to one point three Harmony orbits, Tei. That means we should live, barring accidents, to the age of one hundred and ninety-five orbits.”

  “One hundred and ninety-five orbits!” Tei’Varyk gasped. How was it possible? “You will give us this nanotech?”

  “We will. All ### citizens receive ### treatments as children. I h
ope it can be adapted for your people.”

  One hundred and ninety-five orbits with Tarjei. He had to make Kajetan agree. Tei’Varyk glanced at Tei’Unwin, and saw the same kinds of thoughts in the slant of his ears and twitching whiskers. Tei’Unwin went still and his ears twitched upright. It was time.

  “You must speak to Kajetan,” Tei’Varyk said.

  “Your elder?” James said.

  “She is eldest,” he agreed. “You ### speak with her and make her see.”

  “Don’t you think it ### be better if you—” James began.

  “No,” Tarjei blurted in her agitation. “No. You ### do it, James. Tei’Varyk isn’t an elder.”

  “Neither am I.”

  “But you are alien. Varyk is one Tei among many; you are something other. She will hear you.”

  James glanced at Brenda uneasily. “All right. When?”

  “Now,” Tei’Varyk said instantly and was echoed by the others.

  * * *

  James was nervous as hell. Thank God Brenda was with him. He stood before the blank screen with Brenda on one side and Tei’Varyk on the other. The other Tei, Tei’Unwin, was standing with Tarjei in the background. They had wanted to be present and Tei’Varyk had thought it a good idea. The more the merrier as far as James was concerned.

  “I don’t know what to say,” he whispered. “I wish Bindar was here.”

  Brenda squeezed his hand reassuringly. “Just introduce us and be polite.”

  “Oh thank you. I had that part figured out.”

  “You’ll be fine,” Brenda said. “Just listen to what she says and wing it. She’s an elder, she must be a reasonable person.”

  “Why?” James hissed as the screen flickered on.

  Tei’Varyk stepped forward and bowed quickly. James stayed where he was hoping Kajetan and the other elders would not notice him. No such luck. He watched with a sinking feeling as Kajetan’s ears lay back in shock. The other elders stared with white-rimmed eyes at the first alien face they had ever seen. James hoped he and Brenda wouldn’t be the last.

  “Honoured Kajetan, honoured elders, I have disobeyed you. I could not follow your orders.” Tei’Varyk bowed twice in apology. “I could not destroy our chance, perhaps our last chance to become what we are meant to be. The Humans offer us a way to make the Great Harmony greater than ever.”

  There was silence from the elders. They were still in shock at Tei’Varyk’s betrayal. James thought now would be a good time to take charge and stepped forward. He tried to imitate Tei’Varyk’s bow, but then turned to him in confusion when the screen darkened.

  “What has happened?”

  “I don’t know,” Tei’Varyk said and spoke in rapid Shan to Tei’Unwin.

  James could not follow what was said, but whatever it was had Tei’Unwin racing out the door in a scrabble of claws.

  “I think we’re in trouble,” Brenda hissed and nodded at the stricken look on Tarjei’s face. “She’s afraid. Tei’Varyk disobeyed—” she broke off as the screen re-activated. “James…” she hissed.

  “Tei’Varyk, attend,” Kajetan said imperiously. She was alone now and by the tone of her voice, she was not pleased.

  Tei’Varyk bowed. “I hear, Eldest.”

  “By what right do you choose what is best for our people?”

  “By clan right and my authority as Tei, Eldest.”

  Kajetan’s eyes blazed. “You dare. You dare use clan right for this!”

  “I dare, Eldest. For this nothing else will suffice.”

  James had no idea what clan right was, but by Kajetan’s reaction, he knew Tei’Varyk was on thin ice. He was about to introduce himself to take Kajetan’s attention away from Tei’Varyk, when she turned to him.

  “Speak.”

  James raised an eyebrow at that. Who was she to order him? Brenda shoved him forward, and he swallowed his protest. He stepped forward and performed his bow, but made it less than before. Kajetan would have to earn more from him. So far she had failed to do that.

  “Eldest, I am called James Wilder. This is my mate, Brenda Lane,” he said and pause to allow Tei’Varyk to interpret. “We were sent here by the Alliance to contact you in hope of making new friends.”

  Kajetan listened to Tei’Varyk’s translation with ears and whiskers twitching. “What is this Alliance?”

  “The Alliance is comprised of two hundred and thirty-four Human populated worlds living in harmony,” James said not wincing at the exaggeration. “We are governed by the Council, which is like yet unlike a Council of elders. Our elders wish to extend the hand of friendship to all Shan.”

  “Friends do not invade our space. Friends do not skulk about and spy.”

  James winced at Kajetan’s vitriol. “We have learned to be cautious, Eldest. Two hundred years ago, my people met a race that tried to kill us all. You know them as the Murderers of Harmony. They are Murderers in truth. We call them Merkiaari.”

  Kajetan hissed and spoke with Tei’Varyk. “You believe this—why?”

  “I have spoken with James and Brenda for many cycles, Eldest. I have seen what they brought with them. They would offer us a place in their Alliance, but more than this, they offer FTL for our ships and something called nanotech. Eldest I… the Great Harmony can be built anew, built among the stars.”

  “This is true?” Kajetan said.

  James nodded. “I give you my word that what I say is true. I would not lie to you. FTL is one of many things we offer, and nanotech is available providing it can be adapted to work for you. I have been assured by people I trust, that it will simply be a matter of research and reprogramming. Biologically, our two peoples are fundamentally the same. I do not foresee a problem.”

  Kajetan listened to the translation. “What is nanotech?”

  Oh yes!

  James felt like dancing with excitement. He had her, he was sure he had her. Kajetan was no longer belligerent; she was curious. Brenda seemed to agree, she was fidgeting as if she couldn’t keep her feet from dancing.

  “Nanotech is a medical process designed to prevent illness and extend life,” he said simply when he realised Kajetan was still waiting for an answer.

  “Extend life?” Kajetan said with her whiskers twitching. She glanced from James to Tei’Varyk and back. “How, and by how much?”

  “I am fifty-two years old, Eldest. That is the same as sixty-eight orbits. I will live, barring accidents of course, for another hundred and twenty orbits… perhaps more if fate is kind.”

  Kajetan hissed in shock. “You are an elder of your people?”

  James smiled. “No, Eldest. I am young yet.”

  Kajetan blinked at that. James was almost her age yet he was too young to be an elder. “What is your proposal?”

  James closed his eyes in abject relief. “First, Eldest, I must ask that my ship be allowed to emerge and be given safe passage. Second, I ask that you and my Tei discuss the future of our two peoples face to face. Third…”

  * * *

  Aboard ASN Canada, in orbit of Harmony

  Never had the launching of a drone had such ceremony surrounding it, Colgan mused. Next to him stood Tei’Varyk of Chakra, gazing with pride at the viewscreen where the six heavy cruisers, heavy fangs he should say, of Canada’s escort were displayed. Six heavies as escort should have filled him with pride that his ship was viewed with such respect, but all it did was intimidate him. He wished he had a carrier here, that would even things up right nicely.

  Jump technology wasn’t everything, he had found. Good weapons and good sensors made up for a lot, and those ships had both in abundance. He had learned a great deal since detecting the probe Wilder launched to survey the agreed upon asteroid. The signal might have been agreed upon before hand, but it was still a tough decision to make. When he finally did come out of hiding, he was greeted by that little lot out there. Colgan remembered thinking he was a goner for sure, but then the lander suddenly appeared out of the shadow of the heavies, and Mark received a tight
beam message…

  “Hello Captain,” Wilder said. “I’ve brought some friends over, if that’s all right?”

  “Friends?” Colgan said as his crew ran futilely to battle stations. “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure, sir. Tell the Chief the Box worked great.” Wilder grinned and pulled Professor Lane into view of the pickup. “Can we come in?”

  That had been two weeks ago. Two weeks of discussions with the elders of the Shan—sometimes heated, sometimes not, but always ending amicably thank goodness. Today was the day to consummate the agreement hammered out by his team. It was far from what they had wanted to accomplish here, but they definitely had a foot in the door. All in all, Colgan felt he was ahead of the game. After all, Canada was still in one piece and so was he.

  “Contact Kajetan please, Mark,” Colgan said.

  “Aye, sir,” Lieutenant Ricks said and used the jury-rigged equipment donated by Tei’Varyk. “On screen, Skip.”

  “I greet you, Kajetan… elders,” he said standing and bowing to the screen.

  The elders were wearing headsets modified by Shan from the Chief’s originals. They listened to the translation and bowed to him in return.

  “With your permission, we are ready to launch the drone,” Colgan said, careful to enunciate the words clearly for the bridge recorders and the translation package.

  “I would speak to Tei’Varyk, Tei’Colgan,” Kajetan said.

  “As you wish, Ma’am,” Colgan said and stepped to one side giving Tei’Varyk unrestricted access to his elders.

  Tei’Varyk spoke rapidly in his own language. Colgan cupped his earpiece, and concentrated trying to ignore the gaps that Bindar had managed to reduce, but not eradicate.

  “…I stand ready to verify the agreement we have with the Humans.”

  “Good,” Kajetan said. “But that is not what we wish to discuss with you. I trust Tei’Colgan to do as we agreed; whether that means his people will also… we shall see. You have served well, Tei’Varyk. You have served our people better perhaps than we ourselves have.”