by Isaac Hooke
“How?” Xin asked.
Jain glanced at her. “Eric and I have the coordinates of all the major players in the Link Empire stored in our heads. Between the two of us, we can put together a list of all the Link homeworlds, along with the systems and deep space war zones located on the front lines against the Fresnal. We could open a series of rifts to the different locations, send in probes, and get some numbers. Those numbers would go a long way toward allaying the queen’s doubts and securing her allegiance.”
“Assuming the Link are weakened, like we suspect,” Eric said.
Jain nodded in agreement. “It will be that much harder to secure the Tyrnari’s allegiance if they’re not.”
“Where do you plan on opening these rifts?” Jason asked.
“Right here,” Jain said.
Jason shook his head. “Risilan will never agree. Opening rifts to Link territory, in her space?”
“Why not?” Jain said.
“If a rift managed to open near an enemy base or fleet, we’d have company,” Jason said. “That would piss her off.”
“But the odds of that happening are infinitesimal,” Jain said.
“I’ll do it from Banthar Prime,” Eric interjected. “I’m not too worried about opening rifts to Link territory. I’ve already repaired three gates in orbit above the Banthar homeworld… they only need half an hour to recharge between rift creations, unlike the two-hour window of Banthar and Mimic vessels, or the twelve-hour recharge period of Mind Refurb vessels. And I should have at least another two more gates operational in a few hours, so that’ll cut down the time needed for our intel gathering.” He glanced at Jason. “Give me twelve to eighteen hours, and I should have everything you need to show your queen.”
Jason stood in a throne room virtual environment this time. Risilan sat in one of two gem-encrusted golden chairs. The second was empty. There were no advisors present. It was simply Jason and Risilan.
“I have reviewed the data you shared with me,” Risilan said. There was no hint of seduction in her voice, not like her first words during the earlier meeting. No, she was all business. “The Link do appear to be weakened, if one goes by sheer numbers alone.”
“The Fresnal have worn them down over the decades,” Jason agreed.
“Perhaps,” Risilan said, her face hard. “Though it is also possible that there are other systems where the fighting is taking place. Or staging systems where they’ve left their reserves. Systems your allies failed to check.”
“If you know of any other systems we should be looking at, I’d be happy to have them look,” Jason said.
Risilan shook her head. Her features softened. “Even though you’ve shown me all of this, my first instinct is still to refuse. To protect my people. We’ve only just begun to move out of the biodomes that the years of terraforming forced us to live inside. Many ecosystems are still damaged. And bioweapons roam the uninhabited zones.”
“Sounds a bit like Earth after our first invasion,” Jason said. “But at least we didn’t have biodomes on our populated side. I definitely can empathize with you… I wouldn’t want to go to war, either, if I was the leader of a nation, and I could help it. But in this case, going to war is a preventative measure. You have to stop the Link from ever subjugating the Tyrnari again. From ever forcing you to live in biodomes, while they use your planet’s natural resources to produce bioweapons for their wars.”
She lowered her gaze. “I’ve presented the data to my advisors, and they all agree, joining you is a bad idea. But they have left the final decision in my hands.”
“Of course they have,” Jason said. “You’re the queen. You have the final say. This isn’t a democracy.”
She smiled faintly. “No, it isn’t. Though I’ve been toying with installing such a governmental framework. The only thing stopping me is that I don’t believe such a ruling structure would be compatible with the Tyrnari mindset. We’re used to being ruled by monarchs. Having rule by elected officials would be a very foreign thing.”
“I’m sure you’d adapt,” Jason said. “If you really wanted such a system.”
“My fear is corruption,” Risilan said. “Elected officials can be swayed by lobbyists and funding from different foreign powers. Whereas in my system, the only one who could be corrupted is me. And we all know I’m incorruptible.”
“Oh, of course,” Jason said, finding it hard to keep the sarcasm from his voice. “But do your advisors have any sway over you?”
“Well, yes,” Risilan said.
“Okay, then you’re forgetting that your advisors are essentially the same as elected officials, at least when it comes to bribes,” Jason said. “You say they all advised you not to join in this alliance? How do you know they’re not doing so because they’ve received bribes from different influential groups among your population?”
“That’s a good point,” Risilan said. “Democracy, and dictatorships, aren’t all that different, once one gets to the heart of the matter. They’re just a different set of players. And neither one truly has the interests of the people in mind.”
“No, not really,” Jason agreed. “But in a democracy, the people get the illusion that they have some say.”
“There is the difference,” Risilan said. “The illusion. Which is why I’ve been toying with the idea.” She waved a hand. “But in any case, you didn’t come here to debate the technical intricacies of political systems with me.”
“No,” he said.
She got up off her throne, and took the steps leading down from the dais, until she stood before him. She had chosen the height of her avatar to match his own so that their faces were level with one another.
She took a deep breath, as if what she was about to say was difficult for her.
“I will help you under one condition,” Risilan said.
He stared into her eyes intently. He could see longing there, desire, mixed with… doubt, he thought.
“What condition is that?” he asked.
Tears seemed to well in her eyes for a moment, but she blinked, and they were gone. “That you stay here. Permanently.”
Jason simply stared at her. “I— I can’t commit to something like that. I value my freedom. ”
She turned her back on him. “Then I can’t help you.”
She climbed the dais, and returned to the throne, sitting in the leftmost seat.
Jason sighed. “This is how it’s going to be, is it?”
She smiled defiantly. Her eyes dared him to refuse her. He knew then that she was very serious. If he wanted to secure this alliance, he’d have to agree to stay.
How important is it that we defeat the Link anyway?
But he knew the answer already: very important. All four races of the proposed alliance—Banthar, Tyrnari, Human, Mimic—were at risk if the Link were not stopped. The four of them had to attack now, while the enemy was weak. And to do that, they needed Risilan’s help. The number of Link vessels Eric’s probes had recorded in the target systems, while encouraging, was still high. If the allies wanted to stand a chance, they needed the Tyrnari space navy.
He was boxed in.
He looked down at his feet. “Let’s say I do this. What are the terms? Will the War Forgers and our clones be allowed to join me, if they want to?”
He glanced up in time to catch her shaking her head. “You will become my consort.” She patted the cushion of the empty chair next to her. “You will sit on this throne beside me. To do that, you must free yourself of all other mates. You must leave behind your machine women.”
“But I love them,” he said.
“As I love you,” she said.
He looked at her, somewhat stunned. He hadn’t even thought her capable of love, considering her alien nature. But then again, maybe that wasn’t fair. Maybe the emotion humans called love evolved along with higher intelligence throughout the galaxy.
He held his tongue, because he wasn’t sure he loved her in return. How could he be? He didn’t
care about her external form, of course: for the past several decades he’d been sleeping with woman that looked like war machines in real life after all. He only cared about this current form, which was the most representative of how she was inside, as far as he was concerned. Their virtual avatars had slept together in this form, but otherwise, he didn’t really know her that well. Not like the others. So yes, he kept quiet.
Risilan spoke into the silence. “Someday you will learn to love me, as you love them.”
She seemed disappointed when he still didn’t answer. “Ruling at my side does not please you? You will have power beyond your dreams. The people will revere you, and cheer your name when you walk the streets with your android. We’ll have to prepare one in the image of a Tyrnari, of course.”
“I just… why don’t you marry a Tyrnari?” he asked.
“I don’t want a Tyrnari,” she said quietly. “They’re all power seekers. None of them want me for who I am, but for the throne I sit upon. Not one of them would turn me down. Only you… only you have spurned me. That has only made me want you all the more.”
That was a part of human psychology as well: when something seemed unattainable, oftentimes those who wanted it desired it all the more. Their two races were more alike than he would have guessed. But that also made him wonder what she would do when he finally caved. Would she install him as consort, only to discard him at a later date when she grew bored of him?
But if she discards me, that would be a good thing. Then I could go back to Earth, and be with my War Forgers.
“You can’t tell me you feel nothing when we do this…” Risilan said.
She materialized in front of him, standing once more, and then she kissed him. He returned it unenthusiastically, and she pulled away, frowning.
Once more she appeared on her throne. “Very well.” Her voice was hard once more, and she gazed down upon him imperiously. “If you do not accept the terms of my offer, then we’re done here. You may go.”
We have to defeat the Link. This alliance is crucial.
Besides, it wouldn’t be so bad. Her avatar was hot as hell. He certainly wouldn’t be lacking in the sexual department.
But he’d be sorely hurting on the emotional side of things.
Jason approached her, and climbed the dais until he towered over her.
He looked down at her as he said:
“I will be you consort,” Jason said. “I will abandon my War Forgers to sit at your side.”
He sat in the empty chair beside her.
She stared at him in astonishment, and then grinned widely, reaching across to hug him tight. “Finally! Finally.” She was crying tears of joy.
Meanwhile, Jason felt cold and numb inside.
When she released him, he looked directly into her eyes, and unblinking, told her: “But my terms are this: I will not join you on the Tyrnari throne until we have defeated the Link. We must both agree that the threat to all of our races is over.”
She pursed her lips. “I suppose I can agree to that.”
“Also, I want the news of my impending rise to consort to be kept between us for now,” Jason said. “It will be too much of a distraction for my War Forgers in the coming battles if they learn of it early.”
“Whatever you want,” she said.
“All right,” Jason said. “So you agree to an alliance with the Mimics, Banthar, and humanity?”
She held out her hand, palm flat, fingers extended. He reached out, and intertwined his fingers with hers.
“I agree to an alliance with you,” she said.
Jason logged into his home VR environment and appeared in the common room of his mountain cabin. Seated on the couch were Tara, Sophie and Lori; they were playing some sort of holographic, three-dimensional realtime-strategy game that involved destroying downtown neighborhoods with animated wrecking balls and bulldozers.
“She’s agreed,” Jason said, sitting across from them.
“So you managed to convince her after all,” Sophie said. “How much sex did it require?”
“None, actually,” Jason told her. “We held hands, kissed a bit, and that was it.”
“Aw, it’s like puppy love,” Lori said.
He shot her an annoyed glance.
“So I assume we’re going to go with her fleet?” Tara asked.
Jason nodded. “We are.”
“We’re leaving the Rex Wolves here again?” Tara said.
“We have no choice,” Jason said. “Sure, the Tyrnari have the ability to pressurize their cargo bays, but the cramped compartments of Tyrnari warships are no place for living things of that size. The dogs were meant to roam free. I couldn’t do that to them, confine them like that.”
“We could keep them sedated until they’re needed,” Sophie suggested.
“That’s a little cruel…” Lori said.
Tara hugged herself as if suddenly cold. “Jason is right. We can’t bring them. If ever there was a hull breach—which is likely, where we’re going—we’d lose them. I couldn’t live with myself. Though I’ll miss them, they’re safest here, in Risilan’s palace. That’s where they’re staying, aren’t they?”
“Yes,” Jason said. “They’ll be left in the care of Risilan’s servants.”
“Probably the right choice,” Sophie said, backtracking from her earlier comment. “Dogs don’t really belong in war.”
“Cry havoc, and unleash the dogs of war!” Lori said.
Jason smiled. “Er, this isn’t Shakespeare.”
“Did you know cry havoc was originally based on the Old French words crier havot?” Lori said. “Which literally means ‘shout havoc.’ It was the signal for a victorious army to start plundering a conquered city. Yes, having a neural network for a mind is a wonderful thing.”
He smiled.
Man, I’m going to miss her. All of them.
He didn’t know how he was going to break the news when this was done. He wasn’t looking forward to the day. He had no doubt it was going to be one of the hardest experiences of his life.
He was almost beginning to hope that the Link would win out there. Or at least, that the battle would be as long and as protracted as possible. If only to spare him from having to tell them what he’d done to secure the alliance.
Yes, when the Link are no more, I’ll have to break the news that I’m leaving the War Forgers behind forever.
24
Over the next few days, Jain watched the Tyrnari ships trickle in from the different staging systems, until eventually the fleet grew to two hundred warships strong. In addition to the Hang Gliders there were several other classes of ships, but they wielded the same types of weapons, just in different quantities.
When the last of them arrived, Queen Risilan boarded the flagship, the Gnasher. It looked like a big triangular monolith of a ship. Eric had called it a “Star Destroyer,” and when he’d shared an image of it from a movie called Star Wars, Jain had to agree that the designs were vaguely similar.
“Jason is asking to connect,” Xander said.
“Put him through,” Jain said.
“I have the queen here,” Jason said. “She wants to know if you’re ready to jump.”
“We are,” Jain said.
He’d been opening rifts to Halvert over the past few days, and sending probes through to monitor the progress of the Paladins and Mimics. At one point, the probe returned and reported that no ships were detected in the Halvert system, and Jain had to conclude that Tanis had finally tracked down and destroyed the jamming ships.
He’d open a rift to Earth system next—he assumed that was where the stranded fleet had jumped to. The probe he sent reported extra vessels consistent with the presence of the Paladins and the Mimics. He had that same probe broadcast a message informing Earth of what he was doing in the Tyrnari system, and he told the president and admiral to expect a complete data dump and report when he got back. After that, he recalled the probe.
The plan was to travel to Earth
first, and then make plans to attack the Link now that alliances had been secured.
“All right,” Jason sent. “See you on the other side.”
“Looking forward to it.”
Jain watched as the Gnasher opened a rift. The Tyrnari warships accelerated through in rapid succession. It was quite a sight, watching all those alien vessels pass into Earth system. Wave after wave of them. He was somewhat worried the Tyrnari might betray humanity, that the queen’s reluctance to join was all some trick, and that they would attack Earth to make amends with the Link. He considered himself good at reading people, and from what he could tell, Risilan was sincere, but the thing was, she wasn’t a person, but an alien. His reading could be way off.
Adding to his doubt was the fact he wasn’t sure what Jason had done to convince her. He’d ask for a recording of the negotiations, but Jason had refused to provide them, which only added to Jain’s suspicion. He knew that Jason wouldn’t purposely betray them—at least, he hoped his fellow Mind Refurb wouldn’t—but it was possible Risilan had installed some nefarious virus that rendered him helpless to her commands. He’d had Sheila surreptitiously scan Jason’s AI core, but the results came up negative. If there was a virus, it was well hidden.
Eric’s Bethunia II created another rift for the Banthar, and Jain a third for his Void Warriors. He followed them through. It took a few minutes for the random positions of the other two fleets to appear on the tactical display. Like his Void Warriors, the other two fleets were on course for Earth, and the Mind Refurb and Mimic defense forces that had gathered there in high orbit.
Once again he paused to admire the number of ships he’d managed to secure for Earth.
That’s a lot of ships.
He hadn’t done it alone, of course. Eric and Jason deserved equal credit. Still, if he had stayed in Halvert, none of these ships would be here right now.
The Link were certainly going to be in for a surprise when the combined fleets arrived at the first homeworld.
