by Unknown
No. No. No. Devastated, I lay back down. I whispered, "Thank You."
I didn't see them leave. I was immersed too deeply in self-pity. Dmitri did this to me. He will pay. I tasted the bitter irony that soured my mouth. I had refused to upload, refused to give up my pretty face. Now, my pretty face was gone. I was a cyborg.
I cried.
###
Logs and Personal Recollections
There is usually a reason for everything. That is not to say that at times random events do not occur, but this was not one of those times. While the following events may seem unrelated they are all pieces of a puzzle, cogs in a mechanism, or steps along a path; however you wish to view it.
Let us take a few steps. We shall begin, innocuously enough, in the middle for it seems a good enough place to start. After all, who really knows the beginning?
Ba'al
The Coven
Personal recollections of Ba'al
Advisor to Lt. S'rah,
Chief Scribe of the Leven.
First uplifted of the Gleven.
The rebellion of the Melchiorians had burst unexpectedly upon the Most High Federation of planets. Their desire for territorial expanse thrust the galaxy into bitter conflict. Now entering its second century, the Melchiorians are emboldened and the Most High's resources stretched thin.
Celestial Time 1509.05.08
(Scribe's note: The Leven did not use Celestial Time during this period. I include it for the sake of continuity - Ba'al.)
It was hot, but then it's always hot late in the dry season. The heat did little to dampen my curiosity. Excitement sharpened my vision. With growing longing, I watched the flying craft settle behind the genetics lab. Sighing, I murmured, "I want to be one of the Star People."
With a shake of my head, wistfulness dissipated. I backed into the shadows of the alleyway. By this time wariness of the Scalies, or Mel Chor, was second nature to the Leven as well as the original inhabitants, the Gleven. Those unfortunate or inattentive found themselves guests of the Mel Chor with a private room in the modular genetics lab.
My preferred disguise was to dress as a skin-rotter. It allowed me to hunch over and wear a hooded yellow robe. Even Mel Chor gave skin-rotters a wide berth. More importantly, the Mel Chor considered them unfit for uplifting. I turned away from the entrance. Deeper in the alley waited Max, the local Gleven leader. He sat at the alley's end.
"What brings Tata's mouth to Tata's Landing?" asked Max speaking in chitter, the primitive language of the Gleven.
(Scribe's note: Gleven referred to Lieutenant S'rah as Tata due to, in their eyes, her most outstanding feature - Ba'al.)
I responded in kind, "I've come to see the new ones. Tata is concerned."
"She should be. New ones not like you. They smell like chiefs!"
Max referred to pheromones. Lt S'rah's backdoor to the modular lab's computers had told her the Melchiorians were making soldiers. That was why I was here, to get a first hand report. I was also to assess how the Gleven would accept the Coven.
The frenetic screeching of vowels sharpened my focus. The sound was coming from the genetics lab. Whatever it was had the Gleven in an uproar. I had a sinking feeling I knew the cause. Max accompanied me back to the alley entrance. As I suspected, standing before the door of the lab was an impressive creature.
Taller and broader across the chest than even me, the Coven looked pure mean. Physically, the only thing he had in common with the Gleven was the mane of hair from nape to waist. Otherwise, he resembled the Melchiorians, whose DNA had been used in his alterations, all the way down to is triangular-shaped head and scaly skin. In their quest to ensure the Coven's superiority, the Melchiorians enhanced their creatures ability to secrete pheromones. He reeked of dominance and aggression, challenging any to oppose him.
I hated him on sight. My mane quivered and my fists clenched as my primordial need to protect me and mine was aroused. I tamped it down. Information was my mission, not becoming clan leader.
At my side, Max's brow lowered while his lips drew back, baring fanged incisors. His snarling hiss answered the challenge of the Coven. You gotta hand to the Gleven. They may be small, but they do not back down.
Other Gleven from Max's clan gathered around, drawn, no doubt, by the scent of the Coven. A few of the braver ones stepped in close to the newcomer. The Coven responded with a blur of slashing fingers. Razor-sharp claws extended from his fingertips, ripping out the throats of the pair of Gleven that had ventured too close.
Max charged forward. I reached out and grabbed a handful of mane, jerking him back. It had taken me too long to integrate myself within the local clan structure. I had no intention of losing my inroads. Max whirled around, his own claws slashing. I felt two furrows burn across my cheek.
While not as impressive as either Max's or the Coven's, I bared my own incisors. I snarled, "Don't touch me again, Clan Leader."
"Or what, Outcast?"
The barb dug deep. I narrowed my eyes and projected as much superiority as I could muster. I growled softly. Outcast was a harsh term. It inferred an inferiority barely above contempt. I now knew Max's true feelings. The Gleven, at least those under him, preferred the way of strength.
Several clan members gathered around Max, boxing me in. "You teach big words and farming," sneered the clan leader. "We want the warrior. Go tell your Tata that!"
I looked around at the feral expressions and hungry eyes, shining in expectation of a victory. At a gesture from Max, they parted ranks, leaving me a pathway out of the alley.
Walking straight and erect, I departed with what dignity I could. It would have been foolish to fight the aroused Gleven in Tata's Landing and probably fatal. My only recourse was to leave and report that we had lost the Gleven in Tata's Landing.
Lieutenant S'rah had claimed many times her "Captain" was coming and when he returned, the Most High would drive the Mel Chor form Gleven See. Once clear of the alley, I turned to face Max again. I drew myself up a tall as I could. Towering a head and shoulder above the Gleven, I said, "Scoff now, Clan Leader. But the Most High will return. And when they do, the Scalies will fall from the heavens trailing fire. Those that remain will be the ones hiding while the Leven rise. You will see who is outcast then."
Gliesse 667c
Transcribed from the Captain's Log
Melchiorian ship Tintir-Ki
Captain Luc commanding
Scribed by Ba'al.
Celestial Time 1504.12.06
Gliesse 667c is the only inhabited planet orbiting Gliesse 667 in the Orion arm. The inhabitants are short, furry, monkey-looking creatures of little intellect. They have only recently achieved homo-erect status. The planet contains an abundance of gold and iridium.
There is a problem. Celestials of the Most High federation were here first. The small detachment they left behind to uplift the inhabitants have fled into the mountains with their creatures. We have taken over their facilities. It is my intention to continue to uplift the inhabitants. There shall be equal parts, miners and soldiers, to serve the Glory of Melchior.
Celestial Time 1606.14.08
Progress uplifting the Gliesse has come to a standstill. Commander Korach, the technician in charge of altering the DNA, cannot get past the aggressiveness of the Gliesse. I need a psychic. I have sent for Caligastia. Meanwhile, I go planetside with the senior staff of the Tintir-Ki to witness a demonstration of the new Gliesse hybrid.
Commander Korach met us at the landing site with his excuses. He cannot control the new species. I inform him that we cannot stay on Gliesse 667c forever. Eventually the Fleet of the Most High will return to find out what happened to their people.
According to the logs left behind by the Celestial medical detachment, Glieese667c's original visitors had been the deep space cruiser E'den led by Captain Elo of the Fleet of the Most High. They were due to return soon.
We arrive at the arena. It is little more than a pit dug into the native soil. It was ten
meters across with a hard packed-clay surface. Spilt blood darkens the ground. The walls of the arena are three meters high with several doors built into it. In the pit is Korach's specimen. He looks mean.
The primitive Gliesse features have vanished. The shape of his head looks more Melchiorian than Gliesse. He is shorter than a Melchiorian, but taller than his non-enhanced brethren by thirty-five centimeters. He retains the thickness of chest and shoulders natural to his race while the refinement of his limbs and carriage is Melchiorian. His skin is scaled.
This demonstration is to be a fight between two specimens using edged weapons. First blood determines the winner. At a signal from Korach, a door in the wall opens. A second Gliesse steps into the arena. The two face each other for a moment before exploding forward, blades flashing. The battle is fast, furious, and over in moments. The original Gliesse has bright red blood dripping from several slashes. He holds aloft the severed head of his opponent. The demonstration is exciting, but a failure. Caligastia cannot get here soon enough.
I receive a hail from the officer in charge of the pulse cannon battery. Two ships are approaching. Transponder beacons indicate Most High registrations. One signature is a cruiser. The other appears to be a freighter. I order the staff to return to the ship immediately and go to battle stations.
On the Bridge of the E'den
A compilation of the Captain's Log
and personal recollections of Captain Elo
as told to Lt. S'rah.
Scribed by Ba'al.
Celestial Time 1606.14.08
"Seventh Heaven awaits. Don't screw it up!"
Those words blazed in the mind of Captain Elo. They were the first words he saw upon opening his eyes every morning. He glanced at the chronometer, then the position locator. He had arrived.
"Open."
Hssst. The seal pressurized with the outside air and the door slid back. Elo stepped carefully out of the hibernation bed. He slowly stretched his muscles that for the last five months had been in cryo-suspension. He looked down the row of beds. Blinking lights indicated other crew members were waking. All was as it should be. Elo made his way to the medical bay for a checkup.
Later, on the bridge of the E'den, Captain Elo gazed intently at the blue planet displayed on the view screen. Gliesse667c. Rich in gold and iridium, the planet was a plum ripe for the picking. Or nearly so. Unfortunately, Captain Elo hadn't the manpower to conduct the mining operations. The medical detachment he left behind had been tasked with the job of providing that manpower. The Ancient of Days had been pleased with Elo's ingenuity, even hinting at an elevation.
Elo reviewed the logs of Project Uplift. Under the capable command of Lieutenant S'rah, from Tau Ceti e, the medical detachment was to uplift and monitor the progress of the new species. Lieutenant S'rah was a good officer and an even better uplifter. The reports had been promising. Then they suddenly stopped arriving.
It had taken sixty years to get back to the Orion sector. However, once the E'den refilled its gold and iridium stocks, fuel for the hyper drive would be available. The klaxon interrupted Elo's concentration.
"Captain to the bridge. Captain to the bridge."
Elo closed his files and made for the corridor.
The klaxon blared again. Aaroo-aa. Aaroo-aa. Aaroo-aa.
It was a signal even the greenest of spacers knew.
"General quarters. General quarters. All personnel man your battle stations."
Adrenaline pumping, Elo began running. Moments later he entered the bridge. "Status."
The XO rose out of the command chair. The E'den lurched as her shields absorbed a sonic disrupter pulse. Another quickly followed it.
"Sir, we were hailing Lieutenant S'rah. The planet responded with sonic pulses."
Captain Elo slid into the command chair. "Tactical, damage report. Guns, where did those pulses originate from?"
"Neither pulse penetrated the shields, Captain," said the tactical officer.
"Sir, the pulses were fired from the southern sector. I have the coordinates locked in," said the gunnery officer.
Elo's decisions were rapid and precise. "Find out what other capabilities they have. Ready the interceptors."
"Aye, sir," said the tactical officer.
Elo sat back in his chair. He could see no immediate danger in any of the screens. "Any communications from Lieutenant S'rah?"
"None, sir," said the communications officer. "I've hailed on all frequencies."
Elo scanned the coordinates of the pulse cannons. They were the same as Lieutenant S'rah's command post. That gave Elo a sinking feeling, but he wasn't going to write off the detachment yet. Tactical's scan hadn't completed a single sweep before another problem arose.
"Captain, there's a shuttle rising off the planet. Now there are two, make that three shuttles. They are heading for the dark side of the planet. Sir, the last one is the Captain's Barge."
Elo shifted his scans toward the dark side trajectory. Where's their ship? "Guns, I'm still waiting on that report of offensive capabilities."
"I see a battery of pulse cannons and a couple of torpedo pods, Captain. Unless they have something cloaked, that's all they have."
"Or they are hiding everything else on the dark side of the planet," said Elo. "Launch a probe. I want to know what's hiding back there. Comm, have the Bila widen out in the direction those shuttles are taking."
"Aye, sir," said the tactical officer.
"Message sent, Captain," reported Comm.
The shuttles could be bait. Elo considered a moment then made his decision. "I want that barge. I want to know why they fired. Launch four interceptors. Two shooters, two on CAP. Have four more on standby." If the shuttles were bait, Elo would be ready. "Anything on those shuttle's transponders?"
The E'den shuddered, absorbing the impact of more pulse cannon hits against her shields. Elo raised an eyebrow in the direction of his gunnery officer. "Guns, slag those cannons."
"Aye, Captain."
"Sir?"
Elo turned toward the speaker. It was the XO. He was a Melchiorian, one of the two worlds that were trying to expand their borders within the Most High. Most Melchiorians had resigned from the Fleet. The XO had stayed. "Yes, Commander Crane."
"Sir, they are trying to mask the ID, but I'd know that signature anywhere. I used to serve on her. That barge is from the Tintir-Ki."
A Melchiorian ship on this side of the boundary? That is a bold captain. Elo looked back at the display. He felt a need to talk to the Captain's Barge. "Thank you, XO. Comm, hail the barge."
"Aye, sir."
Elo knew the encounter wouldn't be easy on Commander Crane, but the XO must have known this would happen eventually. Elo decided to keep him busy. "XO, have you found any sign of Lieutenant S'rah?"
"No, sir."
"Very well. Keep looking."
"Captain, I have the barge," said Comm.
Elo sat up straight, his forearms on the armrests and his fingertips resting lightly on his command keypad. "On screen."
Luc's visage came into focus. He was the picture of pompous arrogance.
Elo froze. His eyelids blinked rapidly. Over-Lieutenant Luc? He escaped? The last time Elo had seen the former Fleet officer was in a stasis field being led away by Watchers of the Fleet Academy. The Over-Lieutenant had tried to use his psychic powers to overthrow the Ancient of Days, leader of the Most High. Cadet Adam had been instrumental in defeating the psychic renegade.
Luc spoke first. "Captain Elo, what a surprise."
Shock would have been closer to the truth. A silent alarm winked form the medico-alert on the armrest of the command chair. Elo's blood pressure was escalating. He began relaxation techniques. Slow, deep breaths. Settle into your core. Surround yourself with a cocoon of calm. A buzzing in his head hindered his meditation. Luc was trying to enter his mind.
Elo opened a compartment in his armrest. He extracted a device that looked like an ancient hearing aid. It was a damper field project
or. It shielded one's mind from psychic intrusion. Elo had newer versions, but he had an affinity for this particular one. He slipped the device over his ear. The buzzing in his mind stopped. "Luc, I believed you were still in the fiery pit of Hell."
Luc shrugged. "Fortunately for me, not everyone has a Cadet Adam looking out for them. Speaking of which, I notice you have his little toy over your ear."
Elo stiffened then sat up straighter. "So, you escaped and ran off to the Sultan of Melchior. Does he know you are twisting his mind psychically?"
Luc smiled. "It's been real nice catching up, Elo, but I've got this whole vengeance thing going on. You know how it is. It's a shame Cadet Adam isn't here. I guess you'll have to be the first to pay."
Elo didn't have time to respond to the jibe. The E'den rocked again. Elo shot a glance of malice toward Guns. Guns kept his head down in his screens.
"Captain, fighters coming in from the dark side," said the tactical officer.
Luc gloated, "By the way, Elo. It's Captain Luc."
Elo terminated the hail. "Launch the interceptors. Get me Over-Lieutenant Athtari on the Bila. Guns, take out that cannon!"
"I'm working on it, Captain," said Guns.
Elo watched as two of Red Squadron's transponders disappeared. Luc's fighters drew first blood. Damn! Melchiorian targets continued to pop up on his screen. Luc must have sent half his fighter contingent. "It would seem Captain Luc does not want to visit us. Pull back the fighters. Launch the rest of
Red Squadron and Yellow Squadron. Put everyone else on alert."
"Aye, sir," said the tactical officer.
"Captain, the probe found the Tintir-Ki," said the communications officer, "and I have Over-Lieutenant Athtari of hail."
"Thank you, Comm," said Elo. "Put Over-Lieutenant Athtari on screen and send her a feed from the probe."