by Trevor Gregg
27
Tertiary Interlude
Vlanchek was angry. The Consortium had discovered his spy network, and had used it to their advantage during the battle at Regalis. It seems they had fed him false information. The Consortium had attempted to trap him. But his battleship, armed with the orb, had decimated their fleet.
The Consortium had been forced to flee, abandoning Regalis to the Crevak. He had taken the station with minimal effort, and now had the population enslaved to serve the Crevak empire. He had bombarded the planet back to a primitive age and even now his troops were enslaving the few remaining bands of survivors.
The captured and disabled ships would be cannibalized for weapons, parts, and supplies. As the Consortium weakened, so the Crevak strengthened.
“Grimlok, summon Darius, we must speak,” Vlanchek barked.
“Rrrequesst sssent, Warrrmassster,” Grimlok hissed through his bat-like snout.
It didn’t take long. It was as if the little creep had been waiting for him to call. Darius’ ship appeared on his monitor, making a course for his battleship. Vlanchek waited on the bridge, he would let the liadi come to him. A short time later, Darius entered, flanked by two ushok guards armed with energy rifles.
“You will tell me where the Consortium fleet is hiding, or you will no longer be of use to me,” he said venomously.
“Warmaster Vlanchek, I simply do not possess that knowledge. I have not foreseen the movements of the Consortium forces. I have merely given you the weapon that I know will defeat them. It is up to you to determine the course from here to there.” Darius said, his tiny voice surprisingly haughty.
The answer infuriated Vlanchek and he reached out with his bony plated hand and wrapped it around Darius’ neck. He lifted the liadi off the ground with no effort.
Bringing him close, he said to Darius in a low menacing tone, “You better start being more helpful, liadi, I will not suffer insolence.”
Darius struggled to speak but could not. Vlanchek was angered even further when he saw no fear in Darius’ eyes. He dropped him to the floor.
Darius massaged his throat, and spoke, “indeed, I can be more helpful. I have merely answered your questions, but you have not asked the right ones.”
“What are the right questions, then?” Vlanchek rumbled.
“The question is not where you will defeat them. That will come in due time. The question is, how do you beat them? They can run, they can fight, but in the end, you will be victorious. What path leads you there, you should be asking.”
“What is that path, then?”
“You must destroy the Knowledge Archive on Darlos. If you do, they will come to you,” Darius said with conviction.
28
Darlos
They had already spent more than a day refueling. Which was excruciating boredom for Alis. She felt rather useless at the moment. Benjam was working on his simulations while talking timidly to Tharox. Kyren and Elarra spent much time deep in discussions, over the visions they had shared, no doubt.
Even the ship didn’t need tending to, Isa managed every damn thing. She hadn’t flown since she lost the Ashari. Damn did that still prickle. It was no comfort that Yiu had been atomized when the Starhammer went nova. At least the Ashari had gotten away, at least she was still out there somewhere.
Not that the Radiant Star was a bad ship, by any means. And Isa was very friendly and more than capable. But she just wanted her ship back. Pushing thoughts aside she returned to her present task, tuning up and cleaning her wrench.
She worked inside a small access panel, using probes on a handheld meter Tharox had loaned her, she moved them until she found the signal she wanted. The screen on the meter streamed numbers and letters until a recalibration complete message appeared.
Extracting the probes and closing the panel, she took her wrench from the table and tucked it into her belt as she stood. Heading to the bridge, intending to return the meter to Tharox, she paused just before entering the bridge.
“…terribly hard to endure. They were just taken from me. And I had no idea where they were being held. They were just gone,” she heard Tharox say.
“Oh my, that is truly tragic. I’m very sorry,” Benjam squeaked a reply.
She paused, not wanting to eavesdrop but wanting to interrupt even less.
“The Crevak, they took them to try to get me to turn, to hand over my research. Foolishly I went to my Consortium handlers. They rushed me off to a secure location where I was forced to wait for word of my family.”
“That’s terrible, what happened? Er, I mean how did it… no, I mean…” Benjam stammered.
“It’s okay, I’ll explain. I didn’t learn of their deaths until several days later. They informed me they had moved my lab and wanted me to return to work. When I pressed them on the whereabouts of Isalonna and Jabbar, they finally relented and gave a lame platitude. They were sorry for my loss, the rescue attempt never happened due to circumstances out of our control, blah blah.”
“And they just expected you to return to work like nothing had happened?”
“Yes, and what is worse, they wanted to turn my project over to another division, and change the nature of my research. I realized I couldn’t remain. Tragedy and betrayal were too much for me. So I found a ship I could gain access to, and installed my prototype.”
“Not just your prototype, I’m your beloved construct and your greatest work, don’t you forget it,” Isa interrupted, causing Benjam to squeak in surprise.
Even Alis almost jumped. She kept forgetting that Isa was always watching, always listening.
“Yes Isa, you are the only thing left I truly love,” Tharox said with a placating tone.
“That’s better, my dear.”
“So, as I was saying, I merged Isa with the Radiant Star and escaped. The solitude has been broken only by Isa’s company, but that suits me just fine.”
“Ahem,” Isa cleared her throat.
“But yeah, Isa and I have enjoyed meeting you and your people. It has been many years since I’ve had any real contact. I feel like my life may have taken a new turn.”
Alis felt like Isa was watching her, and decided to terminate her eavesdropping. She took several loud steps as she entered the bridge.
“Oh, hello Alis, how are you?” Benjam asked.
Tharox turned and gave a small, uncharacteristic smile.
“Any word from your friend at the archive?” Alis asked him.
“None, I’m afraid. I sent a message to the archive’s main channel as well. And no response there, either, I’m afraid. I don’t like the way this looks.”
“Just to let you know, hun, I’ll be done fueling in twenty-five minutes,” Isa informed Tharox.
Alis had an idea. She sat down at a console and began to key up a variety of flight vectors and evasive maneuvers, labeling them with a variety of phrases.
“Isa, please calculate jump vectors for the maneuvers I have just keyed up. I want a listing of integral points within seven hundred thirty five kilometers, in all directions.”
“Calculating,” Isa replied. Several seconds later, she said, “complete.”
She then began to tie the jump vectors to the routines, defining ranges and general directions. After working for what must have been thirty or so minutes she finally finished the last routine, omega.
“Isa, please load the routines I have compiled,” she instructed.
“Loaded. Those are some interesting maneuvers, Alis. You are indeed quite a pilot, if your execution matches your strategy.”
“Thank you Isa,” she said.
“Us girls have to stick together, you know,” Isa answered, over-loud.
“Hmpf,” Tharox grunted in response.
It took them the remainder of Isa’s fueling time to get back aboard and get situated. Alis was, she realized, a little disappointed to be leaving such a peaceful location. But she was ready to get back into the fight. Her family needed her.
The R
adiant Star finally lifted off and Isa piloted them back into orbit. She navigated them through a series of star-system to star-system jumps as well as several intervening warp gates, before they reached their destination.
And, much to Alis’ expectation, they jumped into another shit-show once again. Isa instantly began evasive maneuvers as Alis and the others began to come around. As soon as she could form a cohesive thought, Alis raised her hands to the holopanel.
“Seven Crevak light warships are on scene. We’re only within range of two but the others are moving to intercept,” Isa informed them.
If this were going to work, Isa would need to execute her routines with nearly flawless timing, or they would be dismantled by the Crevak weapons. She brought up the most appropriate ones.
“Isa, execute “once in a blue moon” and then “gamma,”” Alis said as Isa performed a barrel roll to avoid incoming rockets.
Alis watched as Isa lined the ship up on the appropriate vector, then lost sight of the control panel as her head swam from jumping. The short distance they had jumped would get them around the bulk of the fleet, but there was still one warship in proximity.
“Okay “chi” and “hi ya,” do them now.”
Laser fire streaked across the ship’s bow, pulsing toward the craft. Isa performed evasive maneuvers but it was too late. The ship shuddered and access panels blew open, pouring smoke and sparks. On the viewscreens, they could see the ship spinning out of control.
“Isa, activate manual controls,” Tharox bellowed.
“Acti… va… ting…” Isa replied, breaking up.
Several control sticks and pedals extended from the console in front of Alis. She wasted no time and grabbed hold, desperately trying to regain control. Then she had an idea. Instead of fighting the spinning, the erratic motion, and the randomly pulsing thrusters, she went with it.
Feathering the controls she managed to avoid more incoming fire. With great effort the uncontrolled motion of the ship became controlled, Alis expertly dodging the incoming fire once again.
“Isa, execute “who let the dogs out” and then routine “omega” now!”
The lights flickered and again she lost her world briefly as Isa performed another short range jump. It would take them right into Darlos’ atmosphere, if her calculations were correct. If not, well it wouldn’t matter, they’d be disintegrated.
The fact that Alis felt her head spinning meant they hadn’t jumped into the planet’s center by mistake, which she had known was a possibility. Instead, they were a massive fireball streaking across the Darlosian sky.
As the sensor readings came in, she could see the city of Darlos had been devastated. The skyscrapers were bombed out wrecks. Rubble littered the once shining city, glittering towers of glass mere skeletal frames now.
“Seve… inbound fighter cra…” Isa stuttered.
Alis quickly panned around and spotted them rising from the edge of the city. Panning further, she spotted a massive freeway, running into an underground tunnel.
“There, Isa, that tunnel over there, quick, and stay low,” Alis directed, juicing the controls.
The Radiant Star flew low, just feet above the rubble strewn highway. They reached the tunnel entrance and the ship spun around, dropping low and backing into the opening, the walls of the tunnel mere feet from the Radiant Star’s wingtips.
“Isa, power down, cut all emission signals,” Tharox instructed. “Hopefully they won’t see us.”
“They’ve passed by,” Alis said in relief several minutes later as she detected them flying past their hidden location. “I don’t believe they saw us.”
“Ow,” was all Isa said.
“Isa, are you hurt?” Tharox questioned, fear and concern in his voice.
“Yes, but it is m… m… minor. A few systems sh… sh… shorted out, but I am bypassing them n… n… now,” Isa stuttered back. “There, systems bypassed.”
Alis was tremendously relieved that Isa was okay. She’d still need repairs eventually but for now she was rigged up to run. She would have to see if she could enact any repairs when they returned.
“If I remember right, I think I can get us to the archive on foot,” Kyren said, interrupting her thoughts.
She was always amazed at his ability to navigate, even if having only seen a simple map.
“There’s a chance we’ll encounter Crevak resistance so we’ll need to be ready for trouble,” Kyren said, motioning to Tharox’s plasma rifle propped in the corner. “Elarra, maybe you should stay behind with Isa, in case we need you to pick us up.”
“Yes, that is probably a good idea. I might end up just getting in the way.”
Tharox hefted his rifle, “okay, you all keep behind me and follow my lead.”
29
Bloop Gun
Kyren drew his pistol from his belt, but it felt puny compared to the massive rifle Tharox hefted. He realized that it probably would be ineffective if they ran into any troops with battle armor. Armor of that class would bounce his pistol rounds like hail on concrete.
Tharox led them up the ramp and out onto the causeway. They sprinted toward cover, a large pile of rubble a hundred yards away.
Scrunching down into the hollow created by the crater of a huge blast, Tharox asked, “Kyren, which way from here.”
He pointed down the street, a path that was unfortunately nearly cover-free.
“No good, we have to find a better way. Can you keep us on the path if we go over a block?” Tharox asked.
“Yeah, let’s go that way,” Kyren said, pointing. He hoped the way would be Crevak free, but knew it was unlikely.
It wasn’t long before they were halted, hiding from view as a roving patrol of Crevak warriors picked through the wreckage, darting into buildings and returning with arm-fulls of valuables. Through Alis’ binoculars, he could see them tossing the goods into a pile at the center of an intersection. Standing next to the pile was a large four-armed vindel, covered in black body armor. He held rifles in two arms and had the other pair crossed over his chest.
“We can’t make it through without being seen. Which means a battle, one we can’t win with our limited numbers,” Kyren began.
“Yeah, as in, number equals one,” Benjam interrupted, wiggling his tentacles at Tharox and his rifle.
“Right, so we can’t go around, the way is blocked. I guess we have to backtrack,” Kyren suggested.
“No, let’s take them. Quietly, one at time, as they scavenge,” Tharox urged.
“How do you propose that?”
Setting his rifle down, he flexed his bionic arms and pounded his metal fists together. Kyren nodded and handed the binoculars to Tharox, who motioned them away.
“I can see just fine myself,” he replied, pointing to his bionic eyes.
Kyren leaned around the rubble and peered through again, his view this time filled by a blue blur. He lowered the binoculars enough to see over the top and found himself staring into the bare, blue-skinned chest of an angry alien Crevak.
“Wot we got ‘ere,” the pirate warrior rumbled, raising his rifle.
Kyren’s hands flew up, and he started backing away. He figured if he could lure the pirate past their cover, maybe Tharox could jump him. If not, they were all dead. Thankfully the fool continued stepping forward.
“No, wait, just don’t shoot. I can make it worth your while,” he pleaded.
“Heheheh,” the warrior laughed with gravel in his gullet. “It’ll be worth my while anyway, fool. We have taken the city, we have…”
The pirate’s tirade was cut off by the sudden impact of Tharox’s metallic fist with his unprotected head. The creature crashed to the ground, but had no chance to recover, Tharox was upon him, raining down repeated blows to the creature’s head.
“Easy, I think he’s down,” Kyren said, scooping up the fallen rifle.
“Alright,” Tharox said, dragging the body under an overhanging concrete slab and then slinging his rifle across his back. �
��Over there, one just went into that building. Let’s take him inside, less worry about noise.”
Kyren raised the stolen rifle, a sleek carbine with a wire-frame stock and a control panel on the side lit green. He led the way as they dashed from cover to cover, finally reaching the doorway after what felt like an eternity sprinting.
Trying to control his breathing while Tharox moved ahead, he watched the street from the doorway as the others filed in. He could hear banging and crashing coming from somewhere down the darkened hallway lying before them.
Kyren kept the rifle up while Tharox gingerly stepped down the hall. He reached a doorway where a pool of light spilled out, a shadow dancing across, as curses rained out in an alien tongue. The shadow grew as the Crevak approached. Tharox raised his fist and drove it into the insectoid face of the chitinous humanoid stepping through the doorway.
The creature’s face imploded from the blow, gore splattering both he and Kyren. It fell to the ground limply. Alis darted forward and grabbed the creature’s rifle, a slender long barreled thing.
“Two down, three more to go, plus the leader,” Kyren said.
“Let’s lure them in,” Alis suggested, pointing the commandeered weapon at the ceiling.
Tharox took a position just inside the entrance and Kyren took the other side. He nodded to Alis and she pulled the trigger. A mini thunderclap accompanied the burst of energy that shot from the barrel. The burst bounced off the ceiling and ricocheted off walls with a ‘bloop’ sound, finally bounding down the hallway where the insectoid Crevak lay dead.
The corridor exploded into light and heat, they were bathed in the scalding glow. It forced Kyren to shield his face. Shit, that’ll definitely get their attention, he thought, eyes still nearly blinded from the flash.
He heard footsteps on the street outside, and readied himself. The first one through the door, a burly grendle, ran into Tharox’s swinging fist. The blow took the creature directly in the face, but it didn’t stagger. It reached out and grabbed hold of Tharox by his throat. They began a dance of brute strength, violently thrashing around the small entryway.
