Call of Courage: 7 Novels of the Galactic Frontier

by C. Gockel

  “From the intelligence briefings we've received, it’s fairly evident we’ve almost exterminated the Entho-la-ah-mines. The war is nearly at an end. They only exist on a handful of planets, their forces growing weaker by the day.” This statement brought on a buzz of excitement and anticipation the Founder enjoyed. “Furthermore,” he continued, “I'm told by the Ashamine Forces that we are close to discovering the hidden Entho worlds. The Engineering and Building Division has also informed me they will be ready to start developing these new colonies as soon as they are cleared of the insects.” Everyone will celebrate my achievements when we annihilate those bugs and expand the Ashamine’s borders. Everyone except for the Divisionists. This thought drove the thorn back into the Founder's mind and his mood soured again. Humanity needed the abundant resources on the Entho worlds, and if they had to destroy a bunch of interstellar insects to get them, then so be it. The Divisionists can go bugger themselves in the fires of the dark star, the Founder thought. They can protest all they want. We will take those worlds, just as we’ve taken all the others.

  The discussion about the war continued awhile longer, a few of the Classad talking about this or that until the matter had been fully reviewed. The Founder brought the meeting to an end by dismissing each of them personally.

  After they left, he returned to his chair at the head of the table and brought out his personal communicator. “Crasor,” he said into the device, and after a few moments, a clear, soft-spoken voice replied.

  “Yes, Founder?”

  “Are you back on Ashamine-2 yet? I have need of my Facilitator.”

  “Yes, I just arrived. I can be at the palace shortly.”

  While he waited for his Facilitator, the Founder thought about the man. Crasor Tah Ahn was a skilled operative. He’s the best I’ve ever seen. He wouldn't be the Facilitator if he was anything less.

  The Founder remembered the time he had spent meticulously researching personnel who would best fit his newly created title of Facilitator. At the end of the search, he had summoned Crasor and asked, “1st Class Enlightened Tah Ahn, will you be my aide?”

  “I will do anything you ask of me,” Crasor had replied, his devotion evident.

  “Anything? Anything at all?”

  “Of course. You are the supreme leader of the Ashamine. Your word is law.”

  The Founder's Commandos hadn’t wanted to lose Crasor, and with good reason. The man's skills were far superior to any other operator the Founder had researched. Over the eleven years Crasor had been his Facilitator, the Founder had grown quite fond of the man. He wouldn't call him a friend, but he was certainly closer to him than he was to anyone else.

  “Founder,” a voice said, and he looked up to see Crasor enter the room.

  “Facilitator,” the Founder replied, using the title because he knew Crasor enjoyed it. “Thank you for coming.” He gestured at the chair to his right and Crasor sat down. “How was Traynos-6?”

  “The bridge fell,” Crasor replied, excited eyes betraying his calm voice.

  “Everyone was taken care of?”

  “Yes. The scene was compelling and contrary evidence non-existent.”

  “Perfect,” the Founder said, smiling. He was glad that, unlike the Classad, his Facilitator got things done. “I have a new project for you.”

  “What can I do?” Crasor asked, leaning towards the Founder.

  “There is business I need you to conduct on Noor-5,” the Founder answered. “I have a surprise for the Divisionists, a bit of a message in fact.” As he explained the details, Crasor's mouth curled up into a sadistic grin. He felt the same smile grow on his own lips, knowing Crasor would execute his plan perfectly.

  07 - Cazz-ak-tak

  Cazz-ak-tak shuffled out of the entrance to the Entho-la-ah-mine tunnel habitation. The emerald green of his exoskeleton shone brightly in the light of Lith-elo-hi-rosh’s blue primary star.

  The beauty and vastness of this planet never ceased to inspire wonder within him. Tall, emerald green grass waved gently, looking like a vast ocean. The leaves on the mighty palos trees rustled in the breeze, small groves of the huge hardwoods breaking up the grassy plains. In the distance, grand mountains reached for the sky, their heights unknown, unexplored.

  Cazz-ak moved out into the long grass, his six legs easily taking him through the waving plants. He followed a well-defined path, one he could see with both his eyes and his mind.

  A short distance across the prairie, he startled a tak-ai, a small rodent-like creature indigenous to Lith-elo-hi-rosh. Its green body blended into the grass perfectly when it stood still, but the animal was very skittish. As it fled from Cazz-ak, it inadvertently darted into a calath plant. The sharp leaves sliced the poor animal, and after a few moments it fell over, dead. The neurotoxins produced by the plant were fatal to most wildlife on this planet. Cazz-ak moved by both the plant and the tak-ai, not taking any special precautions. His exoskeleton protected him from the sharp leaves. Besides, the chemical was a psychedelic for the Entho-la-ah-mines, rather than a neurotoxin.

  After a few minutes of walking, a huge canyon appeared before Cazz-ak. Emerald grass grew all the way to the edge. He continued on the path, and soon it wound down into the canyon and entered a tunnel. A short distance inside the narrow passage, Cazz-ak reached an enormous, vaulted chamber housing several gleaming ships. Each vessel was made from a resin the Entho-la-ah-mines secreted, a substance close in composition to their exoskeleton. It was their primary building material, easily molded into whatever shape was needed, whether it was a food basin or hull plating for a ship.

  Cazz-ak thought about how much life had changed for the Entho-la-ah-mines within the past few years. Initial contact with humans had been rewarding. Both species had come together, had exchanged knowledge and information about themselves. Unfortunately, something about the way the humans had evolved caused them to see the Entho-la-ah-mines as resources rather than friends. It hadn't been long after the Unification and Harmony Tour that the humans invaded their first Entho-la-ah-mine world.

  Cazz-ak could hear and feel his fellow Entho-la-ah-mines throughout the galaxy, and they in turn could feel him as well. Everyone was connected through the central mind known as the Great Thought. He sensed the deep joy and harmony of those on peaceful planets still undiscovered by humans. He also felt the pain and agony of those suffering from human expansion. The misery of his kin was like the edges of many calath leaves being drawn slowly across his mind. It was excruciating, yet somehow he and his people managed to bear it.

  It was this call, this alarm, that Cazz-ak-tak was answering. Even though his race was peace-loving and had never fought in the past, Cazz-ak-tak was going to war. He felt ill-equipped to perform his mission, knowing the humans' warfare technology was vast compared to that of Entho-la-ah-mines. It had been just a few decades since the Entho-la-ah-mines had even learned the concept of war. Now they were forced to fight for survival.

  Cazz-ak approached one of the many ships arrayed in a triangular pattern inside the cave. They were massive objects, crewed by up to five hundred Entho-la-ah-mines. The ships looked like two pyramids stacked bottom to bottom, a bi-pyramid. They hovered in space above him, silent, hulking, their organic hull plates shining bright green in the artificial light. Cazz-ak knew the bi-pyramid shape had been chosen because of its efficiency in focusing the mental powers of his people.

  Using his mind to reach out to the hatch on the ship above, he identified himself to the security protocols. It was an easy task, one he did subconsciously. Stopping below the vessel, Cazz-ak focused on drawing power from the Great Thought. He then channeled this force towards the ground below him, rising gently into the air.

  Cazz-ak floated upwards towards the mind hatch and the aperture lensed open at his approach. It was just big enough to fit his elliptical, six legged body. Once inside, he began to walk again. The corridors were oval, one body wide by two tall. As he continued through the ship, a few of the crew walked on the cei
ling above Cazz-ak's head, mentally greeting him. After passing several branching corridors, he finally came to another mind hatch.

  This path led to the apex of the top pyramid. Cazz-ak went through the mind hatch and the orientation of gravity changed. He now stood on what he previously thought of as a wall. Each of the five points of the bi-pyramid was its own “up”, which allowed them to be observation points and command bridges in case of damage.

  Now that he was on the primary command deck, Cazz-ak was able to look out through the hull plating on all three sides, seeing the upper points of the other vessels. He was amazed they had been able to build so many ships in such a short period. And with so few of us left...

  Images flashed through Cazz-ak's mind. He saw his people systematically exterminated on Kii-la-ta, the first planet attacked by humans. They had been unable to defend themselves and the massacre was excruciating to remember. He saw the great councils meet, saw the philosophical debates about violence and warfare, about what they must do as a species. None of them understood at the time that they were being killed so the humans could take the resources of their worlds. More planets fell and the councils had resolved to fight against the extinction of their species. They had to do it their own way though, had to use the tools evolution had provided.

  The bi-pyramids were a result of this effort. The Entho-la-ah-mines knew they could not resist the humans in battle. Cazz-ak himself had seen the power of the human ships and it would be many years, even at Entho-la-ah-mine speed, to develop the abilities to fight in that way. In the end, considering the circumstances, the Great Thought had decided it best to abandon the home worlds to the humans. The bi-pyramid ships evacuated as many as possible, but many had to be left behind.

  Cazz-ak found himself wishing he was rescuing those individuals, but he knew his mission was far more important. Instead of saving hundreds or thousands of Entho-la-ah-mines, he would be saving his species as a whole.

  He forced his mind back to the present and hailed his Hax-ax-ons, a group of three Entho-la-ah-mines who controlled the ship's primary systems. They returned his salute, and Cazz-ak instructed them to begin departure procedures. Each was standing in their control focus point, a Hax-ax-on at each of the three side points of the pyramid. Cazz-ak took his position in the center of his officers, the focal point of their energy. It was his channel to the Great Thought that would ultimately power and move the vessel.

  In his mind, he could feel the readiness of his crew, as well as their apprehension. It was dangerous to transport the cargo they had on board, but it was far more unsafe to leave it on Lith-elo-hi-rosh. Cazz-ak felt an immense honor to be part of this mission, to help bring about the continued existence of his species. These facts created a swirl of emotion that had everyone on edge.

  Cazz-ak momentarily observed the officer in charge of the ship's mind soothing and comforting all those aboard, instilling confidence and unity within the group. Cazz-ak was proud of his crew. This was not their first deployment, And with the Great Thought's aid, we will continue to help our people.

  He sent out the signal to depart. All around the ship, the Entho-la-ah-mines gathered their thoughts and focused on the apex of the ship. Cazz-ak felt their power enter him and drew it in deeply. Once he’d pulled in everything available from the crew, he invoked the might of the Great Thought, drawing it into himself as well. Cazz-ak reflected and magnified the strength of both power sources into the ship's propulsion officer. She then turned the mighty force towards the surrounding fabric of space-time, warping it in such a way that it made the massive vessel rise out of the hangar chamber.

  Cazz-ak gave another order and the ship accelerated through the atmosphere. As it left the planetary boundary, he gave a course towards the system’s edge. As they traveled, Cazz-ak continued listening to the thoughts of those suffering due to human action. The more he listened, the more his sorrow and resolve deepened.

  Once they were outside the Lith-elo-hi-rosh system, the propulsion officer slowed the ship, stopping in empty space. Cazz-ak watched her refocus her attention on a point just in front of the huge bi-pyramidal ship. The visible stars behind the focal point disappeared, but were quickly replaced by a new, different set.

  As the ship began moving towards the newly created distortion, Cazz-ak fervently hoped their return to the Entho-la-ah-mine origin world of Haak-ah-tar would not end in the extinction of his species.

  08 - Wake

  Wake stood on the bridge, ready to begin his maintenance procedure. This far north on Traynos-6, everything was hidden under a thick layer of snow, ice, and frozen gases. It was bitterly cold, but his environmental nominizing suit kept him warm and safe from the brutal conditions.

  He gazed at the jagged mountains encompassing the bridge, then down into the crevasse it spanned. Wonder how deep it is, he thought. He felt the bridge vibrate and looked up to find the cause. As he watched, the last of several large vehicles began crossing his side of the bridge. Miners on their way to a work shift. Wake wished he could close the bridge while he did maintenance, but that would halt production and was unacceptable to the base commander. On the far side, a few huge gas tankers and a couple transports waited for the bridge to clear. The roadway spanning the crevasse was only wide enough to allow one-way traffic. Usually that was sufficient, but for some reason, there was a queue at the moment.

  Wake started across the bridge, his feelings mixed. He was doing a routine inspection, ensuring the bridge remained safe for use. The harsh weather of this polar region and heavy use by the miners put enormous strain on the structure. The bridge had needed frequent repairs since it was first put into service nearly a standard year ago.

  This maintenance cycle, Wake felt particularly anxious to check the repairs he’d made two weeks ago. He needed to see if they were still in good condition. You know they won't be.

  Wake stopped as he reached an inspection point, checking a cable and noting it was starting to show signs of significant wear. This was not surprising, as it was one of the new, faulty parts his requisitions admin had sent. The cable's yoke end was fraying just as he expected it would. He decided to radio the nearby mining base to inform them the bridge would be closed until he could repair it.

  He turned to look as one of the huge gas tankers from the far side rumbled past. As Wake began opening the base frequency, the bridge lurched. A lance of panic pierced him, knowing instinctively it shouldn’t move that way. Whirling around, he checked the cable. Several finely braided strands had snapped. The cable is compromised, he thought frantically. The bridge is going to collapse!

  Involuntarily, he looked over the side of the structure into the chasm below. Even if the drop doesn't kill everyone, it would be impossible for us to rescue them before they freeze. Wake knew he had to act. Speed was critical. Just as he began to open an emergency frequency, a violent gust of wind caught and threw him off balance. He tottered near the edge of the bridge, swaying back and forth, trying desperately to maintain his precarious balance. This bridge had no pedestrian traffic, and therefore had no safety railing.

  Just as Wake thought he had regained his stability, another gust pushed him over the edge. He screamed in terror and felt the reverberation as the sound bounced off the confines of his ENS helmet. He fell for a second before his safety harness and tether caught him with a jolt. Wake swung violently back towards the bridge, staring down into the void below. There was a fraction of a second to collect himself, then he arced back into one of the thick bridge supports. It dealt a savage blow to the back of his head and shoulders. Everything went dark, then Wake felt himself swimming in a fuzzy haze.

  Coming to, he stared around, dazed and bleary-eyed. “How did I get here?” he stammered. As his eyes cleared, he realized there was nothing but air in every direction but up. His body continued to swing back and forth in a lazy arc. Wake blinked hard a few times, then it all came flooding back to him. Horror swept through his hazy brain as he looked up and saw the last of the gas ta
nkers start to cross. If I don't get them to stop —he thought, cutting off speculation and forcing himself to act.

  He attempted to switch on his comm unit, but it was unresponsive. Thoughts whirled through his mind. Must have been damaged in the fall. Don't have time to mess with it. Have to climb up and signal visually. He fought desperately to establish himself on part of the support structure, but the underside of the bridge was coated with a de-icing compound that was as slick as the ice it prevented. Wake couldn't grasp anything long enough to climb back up.

  Trying a new strategy, he hauled himself up his tether. He made it the ten feet by brute strength alone, getting an arm on the bridge decking. Just as he struggled the rest of the way up, the gas tanker lumbered by. Wake felt the bridge lurch as more of the flawed cable broke. The moan of bending supports was audible over the wailing of the wind. It won't take another stress like that. Any moment, it's going to give out. His mind spun. He tried his comm unit again, but the result was the same.

  Wake quickly detached his tether and sprinted towards the mining base. His feet slammed against the frozen ground as he left the bridge decking. An alarm sounded in his helmet and a warning popped up in his head's up display telling him he was consuming oxygen faster than the suit could refine from the atmosphere. Wake lowered his head and pushed harder, fighting the black splotches threatening to shut out his vision. When he looked up, the distance didn't seem any smaller. I'll never make it. I have to go back and wave the drivers down. Why didn't I do that in the first place?!

  Spinning on his heels, he looked back towards the bridge. With a shock, he realized the two remaining transports were on the bridge. Don't these miners remember they are forbidden from crossing two at a time? It had been established to prevent so many problems it was basically common sense. The driver of the second vehicle was more interested in getting to his warm shelter three minutes faster than in being safe while doing it. His haste will kill them all.