by Don Viecelli
According to the city map showing on Doug’s comtablet, the Capitol Building was two miles distant from their present location. Colonel Tills ordered the three rifle squads to separate and make sure the path ahead of them was safe. Doug led Killian and Jopar behind Tills. They slowly made their way on foot through the mostly deserted city streets.
One mile before they reached the center of the city, Tills ordered the group to halt. Squad One reported over the comlink that a group of Yoyka soldiers were spotted near the Capitol Building. Apparently they were survivors from an enemy troop transport shuttle shot down by Zoltu fighters nearby. The report said at least twenty heavily armed Yoyka was fighting in the streets and buildings with no intention of surrendering.
“What do you plan to do, Colonel?” Doug asked Tills.
“I’ve ordered Squads One and Two to flank them. If they don’t surrender, then the motar teams will take them down.”
Tills requested Doug and the two scientists to stay behind with Squad Three, while Tills went forward to clear out the enemy. Fighting intensified as her two squads closed in on the Yoyka troops. It was clear they only had energy guns and no heavy weapons. Tills ordered her teams to force the enemy out into the streets where the fighting became intense. The Yoyka showed no desire to stop fighting even thought it was clear they were outnumbered and surrounded. She had no choice but to order her mortar and machinegun teams to fire. The fighting died almost immediately after the motar rounds landed. The Yoyka were not used to heavy weapon fire from enemy troops, but they refused to surrender as their leaders decided it was better to die in battle than to become prisoners of another race.
When the fighting died out, Tills voice was heard over the comchannel. “All clear to meet up with us. We’re near the Capitol Building now.”
“On our way, squad leader Lieutenant Mills answered. He signaled for Doug and the others to move out. They found a path through the broken buildings and pockmarked streets from the mortar fire. Several Yoyka soldiers were lying dead on the ground. For most Marines, it was the first time they saw Yoyka beings alive or dead up close and personal. Several soldiers swore at the dead bodies as they passed them by. Feelings of hatred were not uncommon among human beings who lost relatives on Mars and Earth from the Yoyka nanomachine attacks.
They finally reached the Capitol Building, which was standing unscratched from the short battle on the ground. Doug walked up to Colonel Tills who was talking to her three squad leaders giving orders to search the building and make sure it was safe to enter.
Doug said, “It looks safe enough. I don’t hear anymore weapon fire in the city.”
“The city is ours. The Yoyka have been killed or fled the city. Other Marine squads are chasing them down now. As soon as my teams give the all clear, we can go inside. What are we looking for?”
Killian spoke up. “There is a quantum computer center in the basement. It will tell me how many Onutu quantum computer centers are still operational around the planet.”
“Why do you need to know that? I thought all the Onutu centers were destroyed by the Qumru before they were located and captured by the Yoyka,” Tills said.
“The Onutu regeneration centers have been destroyed; that is correct Colonel,” Jopar said. “But the Onutu mind upload centers were not.”
Doug finally knew what Killian and Jopar were trying to do. “You want to be prepared in case Rahta gives the order to use the nanomachine kill code on your people.”
“That’s right. Even if we don’t have time to use the counter-agent and let it work its way into the survivors, we can save their minds when they automatically upload over the Onutu quantum link. All Qumru people have the nanites in their brains to do this. Jopar and I need to know if the Onutu quantum computer centers are still operational or if the Yoyka shut them down,” Killian said.
“Did the Yoyka know about these centers?” Doug asked.
“We do not know, but if they have the Solruku and now Tumil, they might learn of them eventually,” Jopar said.
Tills received a message on her comlink and announced, “It’s all clear. We can go inside now. Lead the way.”
Killian and Jopar hurried up the steps of the Capitol Building. Once inside they found the elevators and said they must go down to find the computer room. It was two floors down. Everything seemed to be working. The lights were on and the temperature in the area was cool. Killian led the way to what looked like the right place. Doug and Tills followed with several Marines right behind them. No one was in the basement but them.
Finally, Killian and Jopar found what they were looking for. It was a standard looking computer room, but this was filled with more quantum computers than Doug or any human had ever seen. Bays and bays of quantum computer racks filled the room.
Killian went to a computer console and sat down. She quickly voiced a few commands and the screens lit up with streams of data. “We’re in luck. The Onutu centers are still functional. I just need to turn back on the Onutu receivers stationed around our planet. Everything seemed okay until Killian noticed a few warning messages. Her face changed to concern.
“What’s wrong, Killian?” Jopar asked.
“Some of the receivers are off line. I cannot get them to work. They may have been damaged somehow.”
“What does that mean, Killian?” Doug asked.
“There are enough Onutu receivers to upload ten billion Qumru minds, but the rest may be lost.”
Doug quickly did the math. “So only fifty percent of your people can upload their minds if they die, but nine billion Qumru will not have access to your Onutu receivers. Their minds will be lost if they die.”
“That is correct,” Jopar answered.
Doug looked at his wristcom. He said, “We better start spreading the counter nano-agent. We can start in the regions where the Onutu receivers are not working. We will try to save as many of your people as we can.
Chapter 62
Rahta
Imperial Leader Rahta watched on his viewscreen as the Solruku starship burst through hyperspace into the Yoykan star system. Yoykan, the home world of Rahta’s Royal Empire, shown like a bright jewel in dark space. Even though he was returning home in defeat, he was filled with anticipation of what he had brought back with him.
“We will arrive at the space dock soon, Imperial Leader. What are your orders?” Anahta asked sitting next to him on the Command Center Bridge.
“Arrange to have our best scientists come on board this ship and study everything here. I want the Onutu technology brought down to my palace as soon as possible. Make sure they learn everything they can from the FTL hyperdrive system so we can begin implementation on our warships immediately.”
“As you command, Imperil Leader. What about the Qumru scientist, Tumil, and the others we still have in confinement?”
“We cannot risk our people becoming infected with anything these Qumru may have brought with them. Our scientists can study and perform all the medical tests they need before killing them. I want Tumil to remain alive until we have no more use for him.”
“Yes, Imperial Leader. I will make the arrangements. We should call the warship Fleet Commanders for a meeting to discuss war strategy, if I may suggest, Imperial Leader.”
“Very well. Set up a meeting for tomorrow. I wish to return to my palace and rest for the night.”
“What about the situation on Qum. When do you wish to terminate the Qumru slaves?”
“I will deal with them tomorrow after Tumil explains how Onutu works and gives us the information he has on the Qumru nanomachine counter-agent they have been working on. We need to know how effective it is. Then I will issue the termination orders to kill every Qumru slave under our control. The Qumru deserve to die for opposing me. Once we learn how to upgrade our warships and possess the Onutu technology, we will be able to destroy the Holtu androids and the Humans as well. All these races must be eliminated and purged from the galaxy.”
“I agree, Imperial L
eader. Only the Yoyka deserve to rule this galaxy.” Anahta had come to the same conclusion as Rahta. The Holtu and Humans were a serious threat to the Yoykan Empire and must be destroyed at all costs. The Qumru technology would give the Yoyka the advantage in weapons and power they needed to defeat any advanced race in the galaxy. The only reservation he felt was if they had the time to prepare before the Holtu showed up on their doorstep.
“I will contact our warship commanders to be on guard for any Holtu warships or probes that may appear in our space territories, Imperial Leader. We do not want to be caught by surprise.”
“See it done, High Commander. Now get me a shuttle so I can return to my palace. I want to get off this starship!”
Tumil looked at his surroundings in deep concentration. He knew what the Yoyka had in store for him, but his options were limited. They had the Solruku, the last of the Qumru Passenger Mind storage starships that he knew of. It was unthinkable that the ship had fallen into enemy hands. His situation was perilous, but not all was lost. He could still make a contribution to his peoples’ survival. Qumru were normally a peaceful race and had achieved an advanced level of technology that could be used for peaceful purposes. To think the Yoyka planned to use the Onutu and FTL hyperdrive technology for subjugating all other alien races to a slave-like existence was more than Tumil could bare. He had to do something about it, even if it cost him his life.
Tumil had one advantage on this starship the Yoyka did not know about yet. He could communicate with Shonya. The AI had already helped Tumil send space coordinates to track the ship once, before the Qumru ship officers shut the QTL communications down. It was time now to plan the next move.
Shonya, tell me where we are and what the Yoyka are doing now.
We have arrived in Yoykan star system. Rahta is preparing to leave the ship to return to his palace. They plan to bring up scientists to study the Qumru on board to see what you have achieved with your nanomachine counter-agent. They also want to force you to explain how to use the Onutu for their own kind. Then they will kill all Qumru on board.
I see. That is to be expected. What do they plan to do on Qum?
Rahta plans to issue termination orders tomorrow to kill all the infected Qumru. No one is to survive.
Rahta lied to him. Tumil should have expected the worst. Rahta planned to kill everyone no matter what Tumil agreed to. Still, it was a shock. Killing billions of people was something only a mad person would do. He had to try and do something to stop him.
Can you destroy this ship before Rahta departs?
I no longer have access to ship controls or the self destruct code. First Leader Utor has blocked my access.
Can you send warnings to the Holtu about Qum?
I am sorry, my access to the quantum transmission link has been shut down.
There must be something we can do, Shonya. Tell me!
Shonya was quiet for a moment. Then she communicated. Perhaps there is something that can be done to stop the Yoyka. I have a plan. Let me tell you what we can do.
Chapter 63
New Plan
The first few hours on Qum were the hardest. Doug felt the burden as much as Killian and Jordan. Every second was agonizing to everyone trying to save the Qumru before the nanomachine kill code was sent by Rahta over the quantum link. It could come at any second and there was nothing they could do to stop it.
They were still in Ollala. The Capital City of Qum had over fifteen million citizens, all infected with the nanomachine contagion. It was strange to see the Qumru walk around doing daily activities as if nothing was wrong. Doug could speak to them but they just smiled and continued to do whatever job they were performing for the Yoyka masters. There was no communication among each other or any signs of true emotions. They just worked, ate, slept and started their routines all over again the next day.
The Space Marines cleared out the remaining Yoyka troops found on the planet. There were not many, since the main activity was getting the Qumru to produce and supply the raw materials the Yoyka wanted for their Empire. The Qumru followed whatever orders were sent to them by the Yoyka administrators via the quantum QTL link.
The Marines and the Holtu on the warships took no prisoners. Every last Yoyka soldier they found died fighting or took their own life rather than be captured. It was just another indication to the troops what type of fanatical enemy they were dealing with. The war with the Yoyka was going to be costly, but it had to be won or every race who faced them would suffer the same fate as the Qumru.
“We are ready to drop the canisters,” Doug finally said to Killian. “The Marines are withdrawing to the shuttles for transport back up to the warships.”
Killian took one final look around the city. “We must hurry. It will take time for the nano-agent to work.”
Doug had already been told what to expect by Killian and Jopar. There simply was not enough time to manually inject millions of Qumru with the nanomachine counter-agent in order to save their lives. They would need weeks for the nano-agent to infect every Qumru that already had the Yoyka nanomachines inside their brains. The only solution was to drop canisters filled with the counter nano-agent on every population center they could and hope it worked in time to save them from what was sure to happen at any moment.
Doug led Killian to the nearest troop shuttle for boarding. Jopar joined another group on another shuttle. Once inside the shuttle took off and gained elevation over the city. At one thousand feet it hovered. Doug checked with the pilot. “They’re ready to drop the canister. It will explode over the city and release the nano-agent. I hope it works.”
“It will.” Killian said from her seat. “Tumil and I tested it thoroughly on our test samples on Holtu. Just wait for the mist to settle; then we will go back down to check.”
It did not take long for the greenish colored mist to blanket the city as it was blown by the wind before settling to the ground covering everything it landed on, including millions of Qumru staring up at the sky.
After several canister drops over nearby cities, Doug ordered the shuttle to make another landing near a large group of Qumru who were near the Capitol Building. The door opened and Doug, Killian and a few others descended the ramp to see what was happening.
“This won’t affect us, right? One of the Marines asked Doug.
“No, the nanites you took before we arrived here have already prevented the Yoyka nanomachines from infecting you. This nano-agent will only work on infected people and reverse its effects; hopefully. We’re about to see if it really works.”
Killian led them to the nearest group of Qumru citizens standing in the park. At first there was little effect. Then the Qumru seemed tired and lay down to rest or sleep. Others just sat down wherever they were and stared blankly at their surroundings not saying a word.
“Is it working?” Doug asked Killian.
“It will work! It may take an hour or two to see results, but it will reverse the effects of the nanomachines.” She studied the nearest Qumru closely.
“Once the agent begins to work and clears out the nanomachines, the person will become contagious and be able to infect others. It’s a simple math problem,” Killian added.
“What does that mean?”
“We are dropping nano-agent canisters over thousands of cities on Qum. If we can infect hundreds of millions of Qumru today, these Qumru will become contagious and spread the solution to everyone else. The numbers of people who can be saved will double each day. In a few days, billions will have received the nano-agent from another Qumru.”
Doug did the math in his head. Killian was right. They could save billions of Qumru in the next seven or so days if Rahta does not send the nanomachine kill code. The odds of that happening were next to nothing. He knew Killian knew it also, but was not ready to accept it yet.
Doug decided to call Colonel Shirley Tills over his comlink. “How’s it going on your end, Shirley?”
Tills was in another shuttle doing the same
thing a hundred other shuttles were doing all over the planet; trying to save as many Qumru as they can. “We’re fine, Doug. We just dropped our last nano-agent canister over the city. We’re returning to the USS Illinois now.”
“Have you heard from Jopar?”
“No, but I think he’s up to something. He and Di were talking this morning and Jopar took a shuttle to see Di on the Bakutu.”
“I heard the same from Killian. I think they came up with a plan to fix the Onutu receivers we need before the Yoyka send the nanomachine termination code. I’m sure it will happen sooner than later.”
“I hope they found a solution, because I agree with you. The Yoyka are mean bastards and killing billions people means nothing to them.”
“I’ll meet you on the USS Illinois soon. Killian wants to take some blood samples before we leave.”
Doug ended the call with Shirley and helped Killian find some Qumru for her blood samples. None of the people resisted and were mostly docile as before. But Doug could see signs of recognition in their eyes before they left the ground. Several Qumru quit staring blankly in space and began to focus their eyes on them as if noticing them for the first time. It was a good sign Killian remarked packing her blood samples away. Then they left on the shuttle.
Doug decided to head for the Bakutu first to talk to Di. After landing in the hangar, Doug and Killian headed for the Command Center to see Vice Leader Di. He was busy talking to Jopar when they entered the room.
Doug said, “Hello, Di; Jopar. All the nano-agent canisters have been dropped over the cities. All we can do now is wait and hope it works as expected. What are you up to?”
“Jopar thought of a solution that might help us save the people on Qum, even if the Yoyka send the nanomachine kill code before the nanomachine counter-agent has time to reverse the contagion and negate the signal,” Di said.
“What did you come up with?” Doug asked.