The Apex Warriors

by Marc Stevens

I cut her off. “Fifteen minutes Council Leader.”

  Justice did not need me to tell him to kill the connection.

  Twelve minutes later, a Chaalt shuttle showed up requesting permission to land in the shuttle bay. They departed seven minutes after they landed. Justice made a short jump out of the exclusion zone and started charging the DEHD Core for the trip home.

  Sael gave me a smile. “I cannot fathom why, but that was liberating. I feel like I just had an immense weight removed from my shoulders.”

  Tria wasn’t smiling. “I suspect there will be some fallout over this turn of events. There will be some who will blame Nathan for your defection. Only time will tell how it will affect our relationship with our people.”

  “Tria,” Sael said. “The Council always wanted me aboard the Legacy. I was instructed on more than one occasion to announce that I was retiring in hopes that Nathan would make me a permanent member of your strike team. If that ever became a reality, I was to report everything that you were involved in.”

  I chuckled. “We knew that Sael. It is why we only let you tag along when we could use an extra hand. That, and we could usually figure out by the way you behaved what your leadership was up to.”

  Sael just shook her head. “We were using each other to gain intelligence. Now that those games are over, I hope we can focus all of our attention on putting a stop to the Prule infesting this galaxy.”

  I gave her a thumbs up. “That will be a major focus, but we have a lot more Throggs to run down until we gain more workable intel on the Prule.”

  Sael laughed at my comment and we all wondered why until she explained herself. “Nathan Myers, you are the only person I know that has more enemies than I do.”

  Klutch pumped his fist and hooted out loud. “And the list is getting longer by the day!”

  We all turned and stared at the Tibor thinking the last blow he took to his head, warped his brain in all the wrong ways.

  He quickly threw his hands up. “What?” He said with a big goofy smile. “This universe is chock full of Throggs that deserve a good killin!”

  Since he put it that way, I had to agree with him. There was an overabundance of murderous riffraff just waiting to fill the void we were creating in all the various criminal organizations we encountered.

  “Commander,” Justice called. “The DEHD core will be ready for interdimensional operations in seventeen minutes.”

  “Roger that Justice, take us home when you're ready.”

  16

  Our return to normal spacetime was uneventful and Justice made a straight-in approach to Alpha Base. The first order of business after our usual welcoming was to get a suitable containment cell for the Prule entity. All the scientists and engineers gathered for a meeting of their minds. They quickly came up with the idea of using one of the nanite containment labs in the artifact building. It was already one of the most secure and isolated labs in the base complex. We would have to modify the entrance hatch to allow for the capsule’s large dimensions. Once interned inside, it would effectively be cut off from the universe.

  Justice and the Overseer set to work on a new communication module that would make it safe for both of the AI’s to interact with the Prule entity. They were able to design one that negated the capabilities of the Hivemind we had once captured. This time around they were going to step the security of the firewalls up several notches from the previous model. We all suspected the entity was pulling its punches when we first confronted it. It was our experience that the Prule entity would eventually reveal its true power when it failed to make any useful advancements toward its escape. Justice was also going to make it possible to manipulate the Prule’s containment vessel. If the entity proved to be a stubborn customer, the penalties applied to its life support systems and environmental needs will quickly let it know our displeasure.

  Thinking that we were taking huge steps in stopping the threats to our galaxy was just an illusion. I knew that since I had found my way to the stars, I only uncovered the tip of the massive iceberg of corruption that was prevalent throughout the Milkyway. It would be wishful thinking to believe that our galaxy was the only example of that reality. The dangers we faced daily, were likely being played out elsewhere in the universe. The more I brooded over that scenario, the more I wanted to return to Earth. I needed to show the leaders of their respective countries, just what happens to planets that cannot lay aside their differences. They had to stand united against what could be extinction-level threats or the Earth might cease to exist.

  My crew and I were taking a rest period. At least I was trying anyway. Tria was asleep at my side but I was restless and could only catnap. I could not shake the thought of my homeworld being decimated.

  I got out of bed as quietly as possible and put on a uniform. I almost made it to the hatch when Tria called to me. “I know you are troubled, but lack of sleep will not help.”

  I turned around and told her what was on my mind. “I know we are not yet at the target number of defensive drones Justice wanted for complete coverage of my homeworld. I have made the decision to take everything we have and go back to Earth. I am going to tell the leaders of my world what they face. I will show them the videos and evidence we have been collecting so they might come to their senses and unite as a race.”

  Tria called to Justice. “What are your thoughts on Nathan’s plan?”

  “Tria, in the event of an attack, there are sufficient numbers of drones to protect Earth until additional friendly forces can arrive. The Sig have stepped up their patrols of Earth’s sector. They have also increased the number of ships included in the patrol route. I believe it is a direct response to our supplying them with upgraded weaponry.”

  I liked what I was hearing, and the fact that Justice didn’t start off with a negative comment. Just because he said there were sufficient numbers, didn’t mean he was giving his blessing to the idea either. I was going to need a more definite response from the AI.

  “Do you think it would be a mistake to use less than your original number of drones?”

  “Commander, the tests that we have recently conducted with the drones in actual combat conditions, have proven their durability. The nineteen percent deficiency in my predicted numbers only results in seven percent of an additional chance, that a single race invasion force would succeed in making landfall. I have war-gamed multiple scenarios and calculate hostile forces will suffer unacceptable losses and would withdraw or be annihilated before they are able. I would also remind you that my statistics are preconceptual and based on theory, not fact. I further warn you, that regardless of the number of friendly forces and defensive systems put in place, there is a seventy-nine percent chance that your homeworld would suffer moderate collateral damage.”

  I sat back on the bed next to Tria and carefully processed the information and Justice’s warning. The collateral damage comment troubled me, but the flip side of that was if we didn’t do anything, Earth as I knew it could be devastated.

  I looked into Tria’s emerald eyes. “What do you think?”

  “You have but one homeworld. If it is lost, your race could cease to exist. My personal feeling is that the sooner you show your people the truth about what is happening beyond their solar system, the sooner they might start uniting for the good of all.”

  I had heard enough. It had been years since I left Earth and it was time to go back and warn them all of what could happen. I already knew that the Grawl and other races had visited Earth in the past, but many of them did not want their incursions known. At any moment that information could be made available to the wrong species, and my homeworld could be targeted by slavers, pirates, or worse, a race like the Quill. It was no longer a matter of if the Earth would be discovered by a hostile race, it was the issue of when. They needed to make preparations.

  “Okay Justice, where is our freighter currently located?”

  “It is on the return journey from Venture and should arrive within the next seven h
ours Commander.”

  “When the Grawl have it unloaded, make the necessary preparations to get every drone in our inventory loaded up and ready to go.”

  “Affirmative Commander. Our last engagement revealed several areas where I can improve coordination between the drones. I will be uploading my findings to my onboard subsystems. All will be ready by the time the freighter reaches this location.”

  A feeling of relief and anticipation gripped me all at once. The relief was from having the knowledge we could do something to protect all life back on Earth. The anticipation came from the uphill battle we would have to undertake to do it. Getting the information we possessed to the right government official that would take what we had to say seriously, would be a challenge. Going directly to the President of the United States was not an option to be undertaken lightly. The multiple layers of security surrounding him would go off the deep end if I showed up at the capitol asking to talk to the President about national security matters. Sneaking in would also set off a firestorm if I suddenly appeared in the oval office and uncloaked wearing my combat armor. Giving the leader of my country a heart attack would probably be considered a hostile act. I gave the subject some more thought and decided my first stop would be Seratook Alaska. I would see how my friend Karl was doing and ask him if he knows any of the Commanders of the military bases that dot the Alaskan coast along the Bering Strait. Larson’s Bush planes were probably tracked on radar regularly and were known entities. I would start low and work my way up the ladder until I got the proper results.

  The hours passed quickly and our freighter finally arrived from Venture. The Sig crew with the help of the Grawl immediately started unloading. During that time I made my strike team aware of my ambitions. They all seemed genuinely interested and were looking forward to seeing where a primitive alien, such as I, came from. Once the freighter was loaded and ready for the trip, my crew and I would take the Legacy and make a DEHD Core jump to Earth and await its arrival. The trip from Alpha Base to Earth would still take more than thirty-six hours using the freighter’s upgraded jump drive. It would give me time to visit with my friend and find out if I could make contact with the right people.

  My clan made a group effort and the freighter was loaded in less than twelve hours. Justice transferred the destination data to the freighter’s Sig crew. They would make their exit from hyperspace just outside of the Heliopause and start unloading. The Sig fleets regularly made their patrols of our sector from there, and never tripped a detection with any of the Union’s monitoring sensors. The location would keep us from having any conflicts with the Galactic Union’s defensive drones. Our drones could then make a stealthy approach to the inner solar system and the Galactic Union would be none the wiser.

  When the freighter departed we met with our clan and bid them farewell. My plan was to have the drones in place and the world leaders informed of what they were facing, all in one week. It was probably wishful thinking, and overly ambitious, but it was taking big steps in the right direction.

  We boarded the Legacy and Justice took us out of Alpha Base. When we were well outside of our star system he made a DEHD Core jump that exited hyperspace just outside of the Kuiper belt. We went full stealth and Justice moved us swiftly in toward Earth. The thirty-minute trip was fascinating. My crew was mesmerized by the blue orb of Earth as it grew larger on the view dome.

  Sael looked over at me and smiled. I was wondering what she was thinking until she finally let loose with it. She pointed up at the dome. “Don’t take this wrong Commander, but how does an ape like you, come from a place as beautiful as that.”

  Her comment got snickers from everyone. She said it with a smile and I didn’t take offense to the goodhearted ribbing. I wasn’t however going to let it go without some return fire of my own.

  “Who knows, maybe you will get lucky and find someone down there dumb enough to overlook the fact that you are a grouchy old witch, and take you for a mate.”

  Everyone but Sael laughed and it took a few minutes for her smile to return. She chose to remain quiet after my barb and instead took in the magnificent sight of my homeworld as it filled the view dome. It was currently dark over the United States but it was easy to see the brightly lit outline of my country. Justice altered the course of the Legacy as we passed over the great lakes. We dropped to one hundred thousand feet as we flew over Canada. We swiftly lost more altitude as we crossed the Yukon and flew low into the sparsely lit outline of Alaska. We glimpsed a random light here and there in the vast wilderness and Justice made another small course correction to avoid a passenger jet heading southeast. A small clump of lights appeared just ahead as Justice slowed the Legacy. I could make out the long stretch of runway lights that marked the location of Larson’s Bush service. I felt anxious and jittery. It had been years since the last time I was here. Everything changes with time, and I wondered what changes would greet me in this remote part of the world.

  I discussed what I was going to do with my crew. They grudgingly agreed to stay aboard until I called and let them know otherwise. Justice was going to move back out into the wilderness and take up a station not far from where I first discovered the Legacy. Tria seemed a little miffed but didn’t tell me why when I asked what was wrong. She just gave me a kiss and slapped me hard on the ass, warning me not to bring another mate back when I returned, or there would be trouble. She wasn’t smiling when she said it.

  Justice gave me a sitrep on our landing area. “Commander, it is nine seventeen p.m. local time at the Seratook airport. I am detecting a single small aircraft making an approach to the airfield. Once it has landed, I will take us low over the runway and drop you off.”

  “Roger that Justice, thank you.”

  I was just turning around to say goodbye to my crew when Justice gave me another heads up. “Commander, the small aircraft that is landing at the airfield is identified as a Kodiac and communications reveal that the pilot is Karl Larson.”

  I was startled by that turn of events. Be it timing or fate, it was just the person I wanted to talk to. “Justice, as soon as he shuts the plane down drop me off.”

  “Affirmative Commander.”

  The plane landed and as it was taxying toward a row of hangars, Justice dropped to a couple feet above the ground and followed it. When it turned and stopped in front of an open hangar, Karl shut the engine down. Justice opened the boarding hatch and I jumped to the ground. Karl was still in the plane gathering his stuff when I walked up to the rear of the aircraft. The cockpit door opened and Karl stepped down to the ground. The lights in front of the hangar cast some deep shadows just behind the aircraft. Karl took a step in the direction of the hangar and I called to him.

  “Nice airplane Karl.”

  He jumped at my voice and turned around. “Connor, if you ever spook…”

  My silhouette immediately told him I was not the person he was going to give an ass chewing, and his words caught in his throat. He took two steps backward but quickly composed himself.

  “Can I help you?”

  “It’s why I came back to Earth Karl. I need your help.”

  He was speechless for more than a minute. “Nathan?”

  I stepped into the light and the look on Karl’s face was pure shock and surprise.

  “Hello Karl, long time no see.”

  He dropped his briefcase and lunchbox on the tarmac and slowly approached me. “Damn Nathan! I thought you might have got yourself killed! The last time we spoke, you were going to go up against some badass aliens. I was pretty sure when you didn’t come back after the first couple of years, you were a goner.”

  I smiled and stuck out my hand. “I cannot begin to tell you how many times that almost happened.”

  He started to reach out for my hand but hesitated. When we were young we used to try and crush each other's hands whenever we shook. My physique and the size of my arms made him pass on the shake. He gave me a warm embrace instead, which I returned.

  “
I hope you are home to stay. So much has happened since you left.”

  The smile on his face slowly faded when I did not answer. “Please tell me you are not leaving again.”

  “I wish I could Karl, but I came back to warn you and the rest of the world what I have encountered.”

  Karl’s eye got big and he stammered. “Wh…What do you mean by warning us?”

  I looked around to get my bearings. The hanger I once lived in was no longer in sight. Huge new hangars were lining the parking ramp. “Is there somewhere we can talk in private?”

  The surprised expression slowly wore off Karl’s face. “Sure, let’s go to my office. Everyone will be gone for the night.”

  As we walked toward a big brightly lit office complex, I couldn’t help but comment. “A lot has changed around here.”

  Karl perked up. “I have to admit, a lot of it was paid for with the platinum you left behind. We donated more than seventy percent of it to the military charities you suggested, but you would not believe the stink we stirred up by doing it anonymously. The Government came looking for the benefactors. The people my Uncle gave the information to, churned out a story that it was found by a hunter. We placed a piece of the platinum block where they could find it. We are guessing it disappeared into some obscure government warehouse. The Commander of the military base that was doling it out, got reassigned. No one has heard from him since. What started out as a way to support our retired military veterans, turned into a witch hunt after the stuff you dumped in the ocean was recovered. My uncle and I decided it was best to do something with the balance of it before someone stumbled onto it here.”

  I just shook my head. The best of intentions were rarely returned with the same. “Don’t worry about it, platinum has little value when compared to some of the other materials mined in deep space. How are Bill and Callie doing?”

  Karl dropped his head and stared at the ground. “After you left, Uncle Bill went to the crash site you gave us the location of. Will and Bonnie’s bodies were recovered and it had a profound impact on both him and Callie. They made the decision to retire and turned the whole flying service over to me. Fifteen days afterward, they up and moved to the lower forty-eight.”