Stand or Fall (The Omega War Book 4)

by Kevin Ikenberry

  * * * * *

  Chapter Nine

  Zeha

  Ares Minor System

  “Absolutely not!” Queen Taal shot from her throne and screeched down at Jessica. The MinSha queen dwarfed her, and Jessica made a conscious decision to hold her ground. Keeping her arms crossed in front of her, Jessica stared impassively up at the enraged queen. “How do you know it was Drehnayl and MinSha forces, Peacemaker? Where is your evidence?”

  Jessica slowly uncrossed her arms and reached into the upper pocket of the bandolier slung over her right shoulder. Without taking her eyes off Taal, she withdrew the laser weapon’s processor chip. “I pulled this from a MinSha officer’s pistol, which I also have as evidence. I found the pistol hidden under the body of a Human girl who was barely ten years old. A child. A child MinSha warriors shot at least three times with high-powered laser rifles. I have all the proof I need.”

  Queen Taal studied the chip in Jessica’s hand for a long moment before folding herself back into her large throne. To Jessica’s right, Keshell and Tirr appeared to breathe for the first time in several minutes. Jessica kept her eyes focused on Taal as per custom. To look away from a MinSha queen, unless given the equivalent of high privilege, was a sign of disrespect…and it was punishable by death. For Jessica, it was a stare down she ultimately succeeded in winning as Taal looked down and then at Tirr.

  “Is the evidence authentic, Colonel Tirr?”

  “Yes, Queen Taal,” Tirr said. “The weapon’s last charge took place on the Shendil-ya.”

  “I see.” Taal looked back at Jessica. “You said there were no survivors?”

  “I said the planet was sterilized,” Jessica said. “The northern hemisphere was decimated by nuclear weapons. Multiple detonations. The only Human settlement to escape that bombardment was also sterilized. There were no survivors, and many were executed at close range. They killed innocents who could barely defend themselves, Honored Queen Taal. There was nothing honorable in the actions of the executioners.”

  Keshell spoke. “The Mercenary Guild has a valid contract with Lieutenant General Chinayl’s forces, of which Major General Drehnayl is a part. I believe that contract allows for such an attack, Peacemaker.”

  “The same way a Human company could have slaughtered your classified research station on Weqq?” Jessica asked without looking in Keshell’s direction. She wanted to see the aide’s reaction, but kept her eyes fixed on Taal who appeared to sink into her throne a fraction.

  “A lawful contract is—”

  Jessica interrupted the aide. “A lawful contract is not meant to guarantee the murder of innocents. It’s not meant to apply to the genocide of an entire race. A lawful contract is only as good as the conflict it is designed to end, and humanity is not something you have the right, or the power, to completely end!”

  At the rise in volume, the two members of the Queen’s Guard on either side of the throne stepped forward five paces with their combat staves at the MinSha approximation of port arms. They were less than three meters from Jessica. She did not flinch, nor take her eyes from Taal. Arms still crossed, Jessica relaxed her posture as much as she could.

  “You dare speak to me in such a manner, Peacemaker?” Taal demanded.

  Jessica nodded. “If you would dare to support those wanting genocide? Then, yes, Honored Queen, I would presume to speak to you in that manner. You have—”

  The guard to the Queen’s left stepped forward and swung the staff at Jessica’s head, but she was already moving down and away.

  “Stop!” Tirr ordered, but the immense guard stomped forward slicing the air with the staff as Jessica dove past the attack and rolled quickly to a standing position. In the blink of an eye, she noticed a thin gap between the sections of the MinSha’s armor. Jessica came up with her pistol and fired a single shot into the space in the guard’s carapace. The low-powered burst caused the guard’s legs to collapse, and the female warrior crumpled to the ground clutching the wound, then she lay still. Though the wound was not fatal by any means, the burn gave off a putrid odor Jessica remembered from Weqq and countless missions as a mercenary. At the very least, she had their attention.

  “That’s enough!” Tirr cried and stepped forward to block Jessica. He’d done so to protect the other guard, not the Queen. He knew Jessica wasn’t careless or stupid.

  Jessica stood slowly, her pistol pointing at the floor, her eyes on the other guard behind Tirr. The guard lowered its staff and stepped back to its position by the throne. Arms at her sides, Jessica fought the urge to ball up her fists in rage. As good and righteous as it felt to put the MinSha guard on her ass, the action really cramped Jessica’s attempt to gain useful intelligence. She holstered her pistol and looked up into the compound eyes of the MinSha queen.

  Your move, bitch.

  <>

  Tell me something I don’t know.

  Keshell stepped forward. “Peacemaker Francis, your actions are—”

  “Shut up,” Jessica said. “I’ve had about enough of your collected Oogar shit, okay? Honored Queen Taal, your guard obviously has some explaining to do.”

  Taal chittered. “She believed you were about to attack based on your words.”

  “And do you believe that?”

  Taal didn’t speak, but Tirr did. “No, I do not. Your posture never changed despite your anger. There was no threat to the queen. You could have easily killed my guard, Jessica. Why didn’t you?”

  Jessica realized Tirr had effectively neutralized the conversation and given her an immediate out based on her decision to stun the guard. “I’m willing to bet your guard is an informant to the Mercenary Guild and my proof Drehnayl is acting on orders from the Guild, specifically Lieutenant General Chinayl. You ought to be able to discern that for yourselves. Maybe then, Honored Queen, you’ll place your trust in others.”

  For thirty seconds, Jessica only heard her heart thumping in her ears. Part of her expected the queen to vault down from the throne and rip her to shreds. Their reputations for violence and legendary volatility were the stuff of nightmares, but Queen Taal merely sat on her throne and stared at Jessica. When she spoke, there was an air of curiosity to her words.

  “Why did you help the MinSha on Weqq?” Taal asked. “Colonel Tirr reports you were defending the compound from the wall like a drone warrior would have done. Is that correct?”

  “Yes,” Jessica replied.

  “I would know why, Peacemaker. Why would a Peacemaker defend one side in an armed conflict covered by a valid contract? Why would a Human put herself on that wall? Why did you fight your own species?”

  What was unasked was the first thing that came to Jessica’s mind. “You mean why did I, a Human, side with the MinSha? Isn’t that what you’re asking? Because I would imagine you know the answers to the other questions. I stood on the wronged side because I am a Peacemaker. I put myself on your wall because I am a Peacemaker. I fought my own species because I am a Peacemaker. And, Honored Queen Taal, I stood up for your people because I am a Human. The guild you blindly support targeted your people for genocide. They singled them out for destruction as a mechanism to accelerate war with humanity. They needed help, and I was there to give what I could because I am a Peacemaker. But I am Human. Why can’t you see that as a strength instead of a weakness?”

  The Queen reeled as if slapped. She looked from Jessica to Keshell and Tirr, then back to Jessica. Taal’s antennae vibrated in agitation, yet her body rested on the throne as if Jessica’s words had drained all energy from her limbs.

  <> Lucille chimed. <>

  I’m not backing down, Lucille. Jessica knew Lucille couldn’t
hear her, but being able to say it, even mentally to another being, helped steel her resolve.

  Queen Taal wiped a foreclaw over the side of her face. “I can see, Peacemaker, that I was wrong about you. I can also see Lieutenant Colonel Tirr’s assessment was correct, up to a point.”

  “May I ask what point that was?” Tirr asked.

  Taal chuckled. “I believe your assessment did not give the Peacemaker enough credit. She is everything you said and something more.”

  Jessica tilted her chin respectfully down but maintained eye contact. “Thank you, Honored Queen.”

  Taal shifted on her throne and looked at Tirr. “You will have your guard questioned?”

  “Immediately. Despite the Peacemaker’s non-lethal attack, it will be a few hours until she regains consciousness,” Tirr said. “I’m afraid that may take more time than the Peacemaker has and, in all honesty, it may have very little effect. The eyes of the Mercenary Guild are everywhere in a warrior culture such as ours, Honored Queen.”

  Taal’s antennae waved in what Jessica believed was a show of thoughtfulness. She looked at Jessica. “Your presence facing a MinSha warrior was commendable.”

  “It’s not my first time,” Jessica said.

  Tirr chittered. “She took down one of my guards on Weqq without a weapon.”

  Taal nodded, impressed. “I suspect that is not what you meant, Peacemaker?”

  “No, Honored Queen. Like your warriors, I was once a mercenary with companies from Earth. I faced MinSha several times. Your people are deadly and efficient warriors,” Jessica paused as the words came to her in a flash of brilliance, “but they make much better allies.”

  “Indeed,” Taal replied. “I am sorry, Peacemaker. The best intelligence I can give you is a tracking document we trade between regional hives. It shows the last 60 Earth days of major transits in and out of the individual systems. There will be some logistical support information you can glean as well, but as for real-time knowledge of Drehnayl’s whereabouts, we cannot say.”

  “So, you believe me?” Jessica asked.

  “Enough to give you what information I can. With analysis, you may find a pattern in the way the MinSha war fleet operates to find them,” Taal said.

  Jessica nodded. “Thank you. I do, however, have a question for you.”

  Taal made a circular gesture with her left foreclaw—its meaning clearly saying, “Go on.”

  “Why help me now? A few minute ago, you defiantly said you would give me nothing.”

  Taal stroked her chin with a foreclaw. “You walked into my chamber demanding answers just like a Human does. You made a claim with such vehemence I could not believe your boldness, and yet, you proved me wrong. You put down one of my guards with as little effort as I’ve seen from Enforcers in your Guild, yet you are no Enforcer in physical or mental attributes. You could have killed my guard and been justified in doing so, yet you stopped her with brutal force and incredible mercy. I have never seen anything like you, Peacemaker Francis. You give me hope for your species.”

  Jessica felt her cheeks blush with the compliment. “Honored Queen, if your people would follow your lead and accept humanity, despite our faults and idiosyncrasies, I believe we could be incredible allies. But, that is not my job. I must find Major General Drehnayl and stop her from sterilizing the Human settlements. Your helpful presentation of evidence and offer of assistance will not go unnoticed or unreported. However, you can do more.”

  Taal cocked her head to one side like a puppy from Jessica’s youth. “I do not get your meaning, Peacemaker.”

  “Not all Humans are like the bastards we stopped at Weqq. Most of them are good, dependable people, willing to do what’s right.”

  “That’s it, isn’t it?” Taal sat upright on her throne. “Why you are a Peacemaker—the first Human one. You are willing to add your...compassion to a situation and stand up for it, aren’t you?”

  Jessica nodded. “It’s why I was on the wall at Weqq. It’s why I went back to the compound.”

  “It’s why she saved my life,” Tirr responded. “That’s why she is my friend.”

  Taal stood and pranced down the steps from her throne. She towered over Jessica, but her actions were not threatening. Jessica held her ground and did not move. For a long moment, Taal’s crimson eyes shone down without a shred of emotion. When she spoke, there was a difference in her voice that Jessica felt in the center of her chest. “I was wrong, Peacemaker Francis. I hope you will accept my apology.”

  Jessica nodded formally. “Thank you, Honored Queen, I accept your apology. I would hope, though, that your interest in cooperation could spread to your knowledge of the inner workings of a MinSha combat fleet.”

  “I will do that,” Keshell volunteered. “There are several potential targets they could strike next. I fear, though, Peacemaker, that they’ve already sterilized another Human settlement. There are reports coming through the GalNet of a catastrophic attack on Dresden in the Aldrin System.”

  Jessica sucked in a quick, controlled breath. Dresden was a major maintenance station and home to one of her ex-husband’s forward operating bases. Marc Lemieux had promised her he was out of the mercenary business, but the soldiers, technicians, and their families at Dresden and a half dozen other combat refit and resupply points were clearly at risk.

  <>

  Jessica flinched. She’d forgotten Lucille was listening. No nukes are a good thing, but this means they’ll have no problem bombing other settlements from orbit, and there’s not a fucking thing I can do about it.

  Except find them and stop them, Bulldog.

  Jessica blinked and tried to get her father’s gruff voice out of her head. It was much harder than she wanted it to be. She looked up at Taal. “Your blanket support of Chinayl’s cause is wrong, and it is unjust. I need that target list.”

  Taal looked at Keshell who nodded. “You’ll have it, Peacemaker. Is there anything else we can provide you? The soldiers under my immediate command are at your service.”

  “I’ll need an escort to my ship. Your guard’s performance earlier means the Mercenary Guild is aware I’m here. There are likely others intent on harming me,” Jessica said.

  “No harm will come to you, Peacemaker,” Taal replied. “To that end, I will dispatch my personal guard to escort you to your ship and ensure your safe and immediate passage through the gate.”

  Jessica smiled and decided to push the queen harder. “Thank you, Honored Queen. I do have a request.”

  “What do you need?”

  “I need Tirr.” Jessica pointed at her friend. “He is the finest MinSha officer I know and could provide me with the knowledge and insight I will undoubtedly need.”

  Taal shook her wide, triangular head. “Absolutely not. I am sorry, Peacemaker. Tirr is the commander of my guard. He is bound to this appointment, and the only way he would be able to join you is to—”

  “I’ll go,” Tirr said. “Resigning my post is easy compared to stopping an all-out war between Humans and the Mercenary Guild, Honored Queen. If such is my higher calling in this life, then so be it. As the commander of your personal guard, there is only so much further I can go, and I would rather be out there making a difference alongside my friend.”

  “I have much to learn about this concept of friendship.” Taal chittered. “I would hope that one day, Peacemaker, you would consider me as much of a friend as Tirr.”

  Jessica cocked her head to one side. “That will depend greatly upon you, Honored Queen. Your treatment of Humans and your willingness to look beyond your own species will pay greater dividends than our friendship. That said, I would be honored to have your friendship.”

  Taal’s antennae waggled with pleasure. “You are a fascinating Human being, Lieutenant Fr
ancis.”

  Jessica held up her palm to the queen. “The first step to friendship is familiarity. My given name is Jessica, and I would be honored if you would use it.”

  “You are the first Human I would extend the honor of my own name to,” Taal said. “I hope you will use it, Jessica.”

  Jessica smiled. “Well met, Taal. I hope we can become good friends. I believe our species would both be better served by it.”

  “I agree,” Taal said as she swung her gaze to Tirr. “Be it known, Lieutenant Colonel Tirr, that I release you from command of my personal guard to perform a mission of critical importance to the region and to the MinSha. You are not withdrawn from the rolls, and you retain your rank and privileges accordingly. You are assigned to Peacemaker Francis for the duration of her mission. I believe she will need all the friends she has to find Major General Drehnayl and stop her war with humanity.”

  “Thank you, Taal,” Jessica said. “Please forward all intelligence data you have to my ship. We must be going.”

  <>

  “You shall have it, Jessica,” Taal replied. She placed a foreclaw on Jessica’s shoulder. “Good luck, my new friend. I believe the future of our galaxy depends on you. Don’t let it fall to entropy without a valiant effort. Lieutenant Colonel Tirr? You are a good and faithful soldier and much needed by your hive. Do not fail.”

  Jessica glanced at Tirr then smiled at Taal. “We won’t, Honored Queen Taal. We won’t.”

  * * * * *

  Chapter Ten

  Bartertown Starport

  Karma-IV

  “You ready?” Vannix paused in the ship’s passageway and looked back at Rains. Her rat-like features curled in a strange approximation of a Human smile, but her eyes were cold and clinical. “You remember everything we’ve gone over?”

  “How many times are you going to ask me that, Vannix? You’ve been on my ass since we emerged.”