The Vandle War

by Reg Franklin

  “How, um...how does it work? You aren’t singing so how does it…?”

  “The translator extends microscopic lines into the nerves surrounding the vocal and auditory apparatus of the wearer. From there, I merely think what I shall say, and it does the rest.” She paused. “What may I do for you, President Young?”

  “We are planning to have a feast in your honor, and I wished to confirm your people’s taste in food. I didn’t want to serve something that might be seen as an insult to the Xaodi people. Or poisonous.”

  “Quite gracious of you, President Young.” She smiled at him. “The greens of the land and the harvests of the sea are what the Xaodi crave most. As far as toxicity, with your permission, I will have a servant wearing a translator observe your larder, scan it for anything harmful.”

  Kelly nodded. “An excellent arrangement.”

  “It is settled then.” She smiled again, not showing the fangs. “Then I shall see you at this feast.”

  ---

  “Damn you, doctor. Why is it unnecessary to capture live Vandleifdulus?” Callixta was ready to reach through the viewer to throttle the scientist, who frustratingly remained sanguine.

  “Because, Empress, the amount of pure omicron obtained renders the entire operation wasteful.” Peters ran his hands through his hair.

  Patience, dear. Draw it from him slowly, he will reveal himself to you.

  To hell with patience, I’ll kill him. She could only respond. “The Emperor commands this!”

  “Well, that may be, but there’s a simpler way to obtain the omicron.” Peters shrugged.

  Callixta was now ready to begin screaming. “Then why didn’t you include it in your report?!”

  “Because I only just started scanning the system for omicron deposits.” Peters retained his calm. “As it turns out, the core of Lemuria is basically a solid heap of the stuff.”

  A mental sigh in Callixta’s head. And the gravity at the center of a gas giant will crush any probe we send in to collect it. Pointless.

  “Then it’s impossible to collect!” Callixta snarled.

  “Maybe not. For one, if Lemuria’s core is pure omicron, then it would stand to reason that it occurs naturally elsewhere in the system. Especially on Lemuria’s moons.” Peters consulted his notes. “And if worst comes to worst, the core could be probed by a powerful enough telekinetic.”

  Callixta dug her nails into the armrests of her chair. Is that possible, my love?

  ...yes. Order your fleet to Lemuria, begin scanning the moons for omicron. I will check the core personally.

  Can I please kill Peters? She all but begged.

  A brief laugh. He is too valuable. Stubborn, yes, but his worth to the Empire is immense. Instead...talk to Praxus. Have him establish a scientific liaison from Simon to work as a buffer. Simon reports to them, they report to you. A simple solution.

  Callixta slumped slightly. I’m not fit to rule your Empire.

  Never say that again! Stragdoc’s will surrounded her. Were you unfit, I would have appointed a regent. You are unused to the role. You will grow accustomed to it and make it yours. You must. You…

  My love? Callixta felt her husband’s presence drain from around her.

  They strike at us! The mental voice returned as a snarl. The alien scum are entering our space! Warn the fleet! Crush them!

  Callixta stood, unaware that Peters had been watching her long communion with her husband. Slapping a comms panel, she spoke the words as Stragdoc recited them. “All hands, your Empress has detected a Vandleifdulus incursion into our space! The time has come to christen our vessels in alien blood! Notify all available vessels to meet at Yuggoth!”

  24.

  Jennifer was prepping the Nadhezda for her return to Earth-controlled space when the computer spoke.

  “Mistress, I must dissuade you from departure at this time. A large fleet has begun massing nearby.”

  Jennifer swore loudly. “How did they find me?”

  “Mistress, I do not believe they are here for you. Several large bodies reverted to real-space nearby and began disgorging vessels that match your scans of Vandle invaders.”

  That was something of a relief. “Computer, do you have an analysis of the drop-off ships?” The wreckage at Centauri had been too complete to figure out how the Vandle were moving their craft in.

  “Analysis indicates that Vandle ships were working in concert, attached to a central hub, most likely an asteroid.”

  So that was how they were moving around. One ship alone couldn’t provide the thrust necessarily, but a large number working together...no, that still didn’t make sense. “Computer, recalculate those figures. That can’t work.”

  A few moments of silence. “Correct. However, the ships were attached to asteroids. Hypothesis: the Vandle have a method for accelerating the carrying asteroid to superluminal velocity, then the attached ships are used to decelerate it.”

  Jennifer frowned. It still didn’t make much sense. “Okay, table that for now. What’s going on up there?”

  “The Imperial fleet has deployed fighters to combat the Vandle. Large numbers of attackers are crashing into each other for no applicable reason.”

  Oh there was a reason, Jennifer thought grimly. Either they know about the Vandle susceptibility to psionic probes, or there were Neuromancers aboard those fighters, telekinetically throwing them around.

  “One vessel has moved slightly behind the fighting line, tentatively identified as the Hecatomb.”

  Callixta’s ship. Interesting that she was there, she had no military experience. “She giving orders up there?”

  “Nominal command of the fleet is under the Hecatomb’s captain, Zulphais Vaathek. Fighters are pulling back under her orders, and all ships are now firing their primary weapons. Captain Vaathek essentially herded the Vandle fleet together to create a larger target for the capital ships.”

  “Not a bad strategy.” Jennifer murmured.

  “Seventy percent losses inflicted on the Vandle forces. Shall I continue to monitor?”

  “Yes, but seal the base. Transfer all the combat data to the ship, along with a backup copy of yourself, Computer.”

  “Mistress, it may still be difficult to escape unnoticed.”

  “It’ll be even harder when they start scanning for salvageable wreckage.” Jennifer pointed out, starting up the engines. “We’ll skim the surface until we reach the far side of Yuggoth, and use the planet’s shadow to cover our departure.”

  “Understood. Backup complete.”

  “Then let’s get out of here.”

  ---

  As it turned out, the Xaodi had no allergy or toxic reaction to any of Earth’s sea life. In fact, Athlé Ma’ald declared much of it to be considered a delicacy back on Xaod. Over dinner, she and Kelly began working on a preliminary trade deal in exchange for precious stones from the alien world.

  The next day, she found herself standing next to the human president, about to welcome the next ambassador to the conference, the Relex. She was not particularly enthralled to be welcoming the short creatures; their reputation for cruelty was well-earned. During the Salk’art Wars, Relex agents had been installed as overseers of Xaod, forcing the peaceful people to abandon pacifism so that they might free themselves. Following the Salk’art withdrawal, the Relex had attempted to hold the planet and annex the Xaodi to their own worlds, being beaten back at great cost.

  Athlé scowled, the Xaodi people had been outraged that the Relex were being courted as allies, although they understood the necessity. Young turned to her, his loaned translator asking if she thought they could be trusted.

  “Not in full.” She replied in human English. Xaodi translators never could get the cadence right of their own language. “The Relex will find some way to turn this situation to their own ends. That is what they do.”

  The small saucer-shaped craft lowered itself through a cloudbank onto the landing platform. “So, I guess they’ve been here a lot more than y
ou thought, Zath.” Kelly muttered. The Prelt turned to him, questioning. “For a great deal of our twentieth century, humans repeatedly spotted what we called ‘flying saucers’.” He gestured to the craft, where a hatch was opening. “Looked just like that, supposedly.”

  Athlé frowned. If she understood Earth chronology correctly, that would place those visitations at the height of the Xaodi’s war of independence from the Relex. On that note, they emerged from the craft. Four of them, silvery skin, slanting red eyes, each standing no more than three feet tall. Three of them loped on the ground, weapons slung across their backs, while the fourth floated in the air. Athlé had warned Kelly that Relex could naturally levitate, only touching the ground in the presence of a superior. The three walkers were unclothed, the floating member wore a purple cloak.

  The procession stopped ten feet away from the welcoming committee, and the lead Relex began chittering and gesturing savagely at the humans. Athlé’s translator interpreted it as “Relex no trust humans! Only here because Prelt! Prelt forgive Relex! Xaodi here insult us as well! Humans be removed from Relex sight! Xaodi be removed from Relex sight! I command this!”

  Athlé felt her fangs slide out of her gums at the little monster’s demands. Kelly merely stood there, and his own translator spoke up. “Humans not know Relex. If not knowing, how can insult? Relex on human world, must accept humans to be here.”

  The ambassador screeched. “Humans know Relex! Shoot at Relex ships! Relex try speak humans once, humans try kill Relex! Relex should have killed humans! But Relex busy with Xaodi traitors at time!”

  Athlé actively fought to keep her calm. Young’s face was stony. “I know nothing of this. In past. Past is past. Must work together now. Vandleifdulus will kill humans, Xaodi, Relex, everyone unless stopped.” He waved a hand dismissively. “Relex want to fight alone? Humans, Xaodi, others let you. Fight alone, die alone. But fight together, live together. Relex not like?” Kelly actually turned away from the aliens. “Relex can leave then.” He started to leave.

  “Wait.” The ambassador was fidgeting now. “Relex suppose humans and Relex negotiate after survive Vandleifdulus.”

  “Good. Human guards show Relex to quarters here. Make pleasant stay.” Kelly smiled at Athlé. She retracted her fangs and grinned back.

  “But Relex not work with Xaodi traitor!” The ambassador screamed. Athlé’s eyes widened as one of the guards unholstered its weapon and fired at her

  ---

  “We’re still combing through the enemy wreckage, seeing if any tech is salvageable.” Captain Vaathek reported to the Empress. “Our losses were extremely minimal, only a handful of our people killed.”

  And Codex deemed these things a threat? Callixta shook her head. “Thank you Captain. You are to be commended for your control of the battlefield. I see great accolades in your future.”

  “Thank you, Empress.” The captain bowed gracefully and took her leave.

  Codex was not a stupid creature. Stragdoc’s voice in her mind. If he felt they were a legitimate threat, he meant it.

  But he did not account for our true strengths. Callixta sent back.

  Possibly. But we must not grow complacent. One victory does not constitute winning a war.

  A chime from the door. “Enter.” Callixta spoke aloud.

  It was Praxus. “Your highness, it appears that the enemy attacked on two fronts.”

  Damn! “Where did they attack?” Callixta was on her feet.

  “Yuggoth it appears. We picked up an energy signature leaving the planet towards the end of the battle. I would assume that it was an observer, watching our tactics, using the planet’s mass to hide themselves.”

  Callixta ground her teeth a moment, then relaxed. “The captain is resourceful. Her tactics might not have worked a second time against these disgusting creatures. Still, alert her, begin devising alternate strategies that can be passed along to the admiral.”

  “Empress!” Captain Vaathek’s voice thundered over the comms. “There is a situation requiring immediate attention!”

  “On screen.” Callixta ordered, and was greeted by the image of a large asteroid.

  “It just popped out of superluminal velocity!” Vaathek explained. “Empress...it’s the size of Derverstand, and on a direct collision course for Numenor.”

  Callixta rose shakily to her feet. “What do we do? What do I do?” She whispered.

  What you do is approach this threat and neutralise it. The Emperor admonished her. Time the Vandleifdulus found out precisely what they are up against.

  25.

  Athlè regained consciousness slowly. An unfamiliar human and Prelt stood nearby, looking at what appeared to be medical readings. “Water.” She tried to sing, but it came out more as a croak. Still it was enough to get their attention. The human darted closer, while the Prelt serenely glided.

  “Careful, Ambassador Ma’ald. You took a blast to the throat. Luckily, your translator took the worst of it, but it was still touch and go.” He poured a small cup. “Small sips, okay? We’re pretty sure we got everything patched up, but I’d still prefer you not spring a leak.” She saw he was wearing a Xaodi translator himself. “A loan from the president for when you regained consciousness.” He answered the unspoken question.

  “What. Happened.” She managed between sips.

  “I wasn’t there for it, but apparently the Relex tried to kill you. The president tried to stop the shot, but it still got you in the throat. At which point the president tried to kill the Relex ambassador while medical crews got a stasis field around you. Eventually, they got Mr. Young off the Relex ambassador long enough to arrest the little goblins. Admiral St. George brought the flagship to Earth, told the Relex mothership they had sixty seconds to get out of our system, then dropped Lami and I off to see to your treatment.” He sighed. “It’s been a hell of a two days.”

  “You. Are?”

  “Oh! Forgive me, my name is Johnathan West. Doctor Johnathan West.”

  “You. Saved. Me?”

  “Hopefully. Xaodi throats seem to be relatively similar to humans, and Lami is a pretty knowledgeable xenobiologist, but there are some differences, especially in the larynx.” He touched her hand. “But we’ve contacted your people, apologized repeatedly, and asked them to send one of your physicians to, ah, double-check our work.”

  +Johnathan is modest. I am confident that your voice shall return to normal with rest.+ The Prelt’s eyes were a mellow orange. +The scarring may, however, be permanent. I am not familiar with Xaodi procedures, so perhaps your doctors may do something about it.+

  Athlé reached up and touched the bandages around her neck. “Thank. You both.” She coughed slightly, taking another drink of water. “President. Young? Where is. He?”

  “He and the admiral are meeting the Gieron delegates at the moment. Turns out they arrived just before the Admiral was threatening to blast the Relex across the system, heard everything, and rather like his style.” West shrugged.

  “Gieron respect. Strength.” Athlé closed her eyes briefly. “Very. Tired.”

  “Of course. Rest as long as you need, ambassador.” He turned to leave.

  “Wait. Tell Kelly. Thank you for. Me, please?” Athlé managed a weak smile, then drifted off.

  ---

  Kelly and Chris stood side by side as the hulking Gieron transport approached. Kelly was sporting a series of claw marks on his right cheek, a souvenir from the Relex ambassador.

  “I’m pretty sure Dr. West can fix those for you.” Chris murmured.

  “I’m sure he can.” Kelly replied, watching the craft carefully. “But both Zath and Athlé told me that the Gieron respect strength and fighting spirit. I figure it can’t hurt to show them that Earth’s leadership isn’t afraid to get their hands dirty. So I’ll fix it later; good first impressions and all.”

  Chris nodded in agreement. “Speaking of the Xaodi ambassador, how is she?”

  “Your Dr. West thinks she’ll make a full recovery
, but he’s requested a Xaodi physician to check her out.”

  “How did the Xaodi take the news?”

  Kelly smiled slightly. “The leader Zath and Thao put me in touch with, Klarkash Cra’a, said that the fault lay with the Relex, and that we are not responsible for their behaviour. Also that perhaps once the Vandle are defeated, perhaps Earth and Xaod might pay Relex Prime a visit to teach them manners.” Kelly shook his head. “Except Relex high command denies ordering their ambassador to attack Athle’. And the weird thing? I believe them.”

  Chris turned to face him. “What? Why?”

  “At first they were outraged, demanding we release their people back to them. Then, when I refused, and said the ambassador ordered his guards to open fire on the Xaodi, he got real quiet. Then he...or she, they literally all look alike-”