Double doors opened on the far side of the room, and Tuin strode through. Taylor was hopeful that this might finally mean some progress. But he had just gotten a few metres from the door when someone cried out in the Cholan language. It was an aggressive roar, and gunfire erupted moments later. It caught them all off guard as a number of the Cholan soldiers nearby went forward at the Emperor, firing repeatedly. One struck his arm, but a bodyguard rushed in front of him, taking a dozen shots for his master.
Newman couldn't believe it. He reached for his rifle, but of course it wasn’t there. He was completely unarmed. The snooty officer that had been dealing with them lifted his weapon and opened fire. He cut down two of the assassins, but he himself was shot down moments later.
"Protect the Emperor!" Taylor yelled.
Newman had no idea what he was doing. He had no weapon and no way of telling friend from foe. He ducked down for cover, as he saw Taylor activate his shield and rush towards one of the assassins under a burst of gunfire. Babacan picked up a Cholan like a ragdoll and snapped its back over his knee. He tossed the body at one of the other shooters who collapsed under the weight of the body.
Tuin was not running like Newman would have expected. He was driving towards one of his attackers, using the body of his dead guard as a shield. Finally, he had covered the distance and nimbly leapt over the shooter. He drove a quick punch into the spine, kicked out one of the assassin’s legs, and drew a small dagger. He thrust it down into his collar. Newman activated his shield as he spotted another taking aim at Tuin. He ran forward and smashed into the shooter who was thrown several metres through the air, for he was so light compared to a Human.
A burst of gunfire rang out, and several other guards gunned down three more of the shooters. Finally, the room fell silent. Tuin picked up the rifle from his vanquished foe and was looking around for any sign of trouble.
"Just like old times, huh?" Taylor asked.
A dozen armed guards burst into the room with their weapons pointing at Taylor, Newman, and Babacan, as if they were the enemy. Tuin yelled at them in his own language, and they soon stood down. One guard tried to see to his arm wound, but he shrugged them off.
"Come with me."
He led the three of them from the room as the blood continued to run, and the few survivors were detained, including the one Newman had attacked.
"What will happen to them?" he asked.
"They'll be executed, once we find out who they were working with," replied Tuin.
Taylor gave him a look of daggers for even speaking. Newman knew this alien was the leader of his people, an Emperor, but that meant little to him. He knew nothing outside of Humanity and a little of the Krys people. Tuin led them to an office with many guards in tow, but he slammed the doors behind the four of them and went to a large ornate wooden office desk. He slumped in the chair behind it. The single piece of furniture was completely out of sorts, a relic from a different era. He drew out several glasses and a bottle of alcohol from a drawer, pouring them all a glass before downing his.
Newman could see that Taylor was shocked. Not about the attack, but that he had never seen Tuin this way. The fabric of the Alliance was coming apart, that much was clear. In such a short space of time, Newman had met the leaders of the other two races, and both were barely surviving and keeping their people together.
"What are you doing here, Colonel?"
Taylor took a deep breath, realising how stupid he felt once again. He didn't know what to say. Newman could see him hesitating, and the doubt in his face.
"Your Highness, we have come to extend a hand in friendship. The truth is that President Rivers is in dire need of resources to continue work to repair our world. Vital research that could make your worlds habitable once more as well."
Tuin didn't look too pleased.
"Sorry, this is Corporal Newman. His heart is in the right place, but he is new."
Tuin looked at the Corporal with curiosity as he weighed him up.
"Well, Corporal, tell me what you think we owe your President?"
"Owe him?" Taylor asked.
"There is growing concern among my people that what we did during the war has not been respected by your President and others."
"He is not just our President. He is President of the Alliance."
Tuin ignored Newman’s response and went on.
"My people sacrificed so much to fight Bolormaa, and for what? Look at what we have now."
"For what?" Taylor repeated incredulously, "For freedom, and for survival."
Tuin didn't look interested.
"Let's talk about what just happened back there. Your own people tried to assassinate you."
He didn't look surprised.
"This isn't the first time, is it?"
Tuin shook his head. "There are many among my people who believe we chose the wrong side in the war. That if we had stayed loyal to Bolormaa, we could have kept what was ours."
"You know that is crazy, don't you?"
"Other races have survived in her service."
"Yes, and they've been turned into her armies to be ground into dust."
Tuin nodded in agreement.
"Yes, but my people haven't seen much of that. All they knew was the brief time that my predecessor had given over to her, before you came."
"Why the hell does it always come down to being my fault? Every wrong thing in the universe can't be because of me."
"No, but enough of them are."
Taylor was shaking his head.
"There is more to this, isn't there?"
Tuin looked uneasy.
"Come on, we are way past hiding this crap. There are bigger things to worry about."
"Okay, the day the war ended. It was our ships that made sacrifices so that you could reach Bolormaa. We were there at the very end. Fighting with everything we had. Risking everything. And we got you to the final destination so that you could finish it."
"Yes? I am well aware of that."
"You might be, but who else? The Human and Krys warriors who fought Bolormaa that day are much celebrated, even Aranui who did not survive to be there. But where are my people mentioned? Where are they celebrated?"
"This is about recognition?"
"For many, yes. I do not believe it is as grave an offence as many of my people do, but I do understand their position. I, their Emperor, was there fighting at the front. Without us, you would never have made it, and that has been forgotten."
"Forgotten? Every year we celebrate our victory. All of our peoples do, together."
"An empty gesture."
"What more would you expect?"
Tuin sighed.
"Personally? A little more respect for what we did. But my people expect more."
"More of what?" Newman asked.
"Support. Help. We lost everything, and where is the Alliance now? Where are they when we need them, like they needed us?"
"I don't understand what you think the rest of us have to give."
Tuin looked weary, as if he was being stretched between the two sides.
"My people will not continue to support an Alliance that gives them no benefit, Colonel. That does not recognise their contributions."
The room fell silent as they all reflected on what he had said. To Newman it made no sense at all. All he had ever known was that everyone had to contribute and give their time and labour.
"They believe you are an Alliance puppet, don't they?" Newman finally asked.
Taylor could see in Tuin's eyes that Newman had hit a touchy subject, and that there was some truth to it.
"To my people, they see an imposter, one without royal blood put here by a Human. Worse than that, they believe I put the interests of foreigners before that of my own people."
"How? How could they believe that?"
"Because for those that did not fight and see the war, all they see is that it came at a great cost. A price most believe was not worth paying."
"So
once again your people believe they should have stuck with Bolormaa? They should have been slaves to her?"
"Better slaves, or vassals, than dead. My people lost billions of lives. Beautiful cities and our worlds."
"So did we all," snapped Taylor.
"Yes, but now you look to your own. How many resources have the Humans sent to the Krys and the Cholans to help?"
Taylor shrugged, as he had no idea.
"We have not seen an Alliance vessel here in years."
"I am sorry for that, but our people are stretched thin, and we are trying desperately to survive."
"Yes, and so are we. The Alliance is dead. It died the day Bolormaa did."
That brought them to a dead silence once more. Newman didn't want to believe it. It was all he had ever known, and for Taylor, all he had ever fought for.
"Sir, I mean Your Highness, President Rivers is working on something that could..."
Tuin cut Newman off.
"Rivers is a dreamer. I do not doubt his ability as a scientist, but he is trying to achieve the impossible."
"Then why not try and achieve it together?"
"You speak of what you do not know. You have not had to manage a people. You have not had to fight a war. You are young and idealistic. I can respect that, but in this it has no value. Humans have not been here for us, and so we will not be there for you."
"All this because you don't think you got enough recognition in taking Bolormaa down?"
"That is merely one thing in a long line of offences that my people feel have been made against them. Some I agree with, others I do not. But ultimately, Colonel, I must represent my people and their voice."
Taylor grimaced. He respected Tuin for that position, but also knew it was the wrong one to make.
There was a knock on the door.
"Come!"
The doors slid open, and a Cholan stepped through in lavish dress, escorted by two private security guards.
"Ikal, come in, please. They were just leaving."
This new Cholan looked at Taylor with his nose up and showed no respect at all. The Colonel didn't much like being turfed out, but he had little choice. He was immensely disappointed, but as he reached the door, he turned back for a few last words.
"You know we were stronger together? You know that, right?"
But Tuin brushed of his comments as if embarrassed to have Taylor there.
"Excuse me, Colonel, but we have important business to attend to."
Taylor had no idea who this Cholan was, but he disliked him already. He looked back to the Emperor.
"You think your people aren't given credit for what they did in the fight against Bolormaa? Well, not with me. I remember it well. What you and your people did was remarkable, and I make sure people know it whenever I can. Don't forget what we had, Tuin. We were a great Alliance once, and we can be again."
Tuin wouldn't even respond, and Taylor left with a disappointed sigh. He was storming back towards his ship in a furious temper.
"Sir. So as I understand this, we just saved the Emperor's life, and he has brushed us off. How can that be? Is that right?"
"Damn right, it is. I knew it was a waste of time coming here. Fucking Cholans. They only give a damn when it is to their advantage."
"Tuin is in a weak position. He cannot reach out to help, he cannot afford it," Babacan declared.
The two of them were surprised to finally hear their Krys friend speak.
"What are you talking about?" Taylor demanded.
Look at the resentment we face here," he said, gesturing towards the filthy and suspicious looks they were getting.
"Tuin is barely holding onto power. Supporting us would be the end."
"He's right, Colonel."
"What the hell would you know about it?"
"I've seen enough to know he is right. The Emperor, he doesn't hate you, but he is between a rock and a hard place, didn't you seen that?"
Taylor fell silent. He was letting his furious anger get the better of him. He breathed and tried to settle his temper as they stepped back onto the docking bay and approached their ship. Sommer could tell from the Colonel's body language that it had not gone well.
"What the hell happened in there? We heard gunfire, but nobody will tell us anything."
"There was an attempt on the Emperor's life, but he's okay."
"Okay...so what happened?"
"Short story is, he won't help."
"What? Why?"
"I am not sure I have the heart to tell you, but it's a whole host of things."
"Is it worth trying again?"
"No," Babacan stated firmly.
"No Krys, and no Cholans, this mission is shaping up to be nothing short of pointless," replied Sommer.
Taylor nodded in agreement.
"That's it, then, we've failed," said Menard.
"Not quite, there is one place left that we can go," replied Taylor.
"What? Who? The Aranui are gone. There is no..."
Sommer stopped as she realised what he meant.
"No, you know that would be a mistake."
"We don't have a choice."
"Who, who are we talking about?" Newman asked.
"CJ and Razor."
"What? The criminals? They're nothing more than pirates. They don't care for anything or anyone."
"They are, but not only that. When it mattered most, they were there for us, as much as it pains me to say it."
"How can you trust them with all they have done?"
"We can't, but you think we can trust the Cholans any more? Yet we came here begging for their help," replied Taylor.
"I hardly see it's a fair comparison. The President despatched us to gain allies among the Alliance, not this," snapped Sommer.
"Rivers sent me to find help in whatever form I could. We can't afford to be picky. We need able and willing fighters. They are able. Let's see if they are willing."
Sommer groaned. "For the record, I do not agree with this at all."
"Noted, but not relevant."
Sommer looked deeply offended, and Taylor felt he had to explain himself.
"Look, you may not like the company we will have to keep, but if we don't find help, then it is all over."
"What, what are you saying?" asked Newman.
Both squads were gathered around waiting for him to explain, and he knew he owed it to them.
"Rivers can't save Earth, not with any resources or technology we currently have."
"He lied?" Giles asked.
"Sure he lied. He is a politician. He told you what you wanted to hear at the time so that he could move forward, and hopefully find what it was he needed."
"And what is that? What is it that he needs?" asked Olsen.
Taylor knew he shouldn't be revealing all this, but to have the respect and support of his team he had to.
"Rivers believes the answer to our problems is in Aranui tech. Tech that has been hidden across the universe since their first war with Bolormaa."
"That sounds crazy, you believe that?"
"Yes, Benik, it is a stretch, but it is more than a wild theory. Irala shared some of this before he died, and the Pauri Tao is proof that they did just that."
"That is why research teams and marines have been despatched across the universe looking for resources. Not natural resources, we've been looking for Aranui tech?"
Taylor smiled at how astute Corporal Newman was.
"M590, that is why we were there?"
"Yes."
"Why would they hide anything on such a vicious world?" Benik asked.
"Precisely for that reason. What better way to protect it?"
Nobody knew what to say. They were as bewildered as the first time Taylor had heard the news.
"So there it is, now you know what I know, and why this work is so vital. I don't know how important M590 is to all this. It is one of a great many potential locations that need to be investigated, many hundreds or even thousands. But the
Marine Corps is weak. We used to number in the hundreds of thousands just on Earth alone. Now, we have less than ten thousand front-line troops."
"Even with conscription?"
"Yes, Corporal."
"How is that even possible?"
"Reserved occupations keep a lot from being called up, and it is important work. Poor health is another, and then there are those who refuse."
"Refuse?" Benik was shocked, "You mean we never had to do this?"
"What are you saying?" Even Newman didn’t fully understand.
Taylor sighed. He would have to explain it.
"Hundreds of years ago, when we had call-ups, and people refused, what happened to them?"
"They went to prison."
"Yes, Corporal, and how do you think that would work right now? We did that for the first few thousand that refused the call-up, and what then? We had to let them go."
"This is for real? All this time in the Corps, and I could have just said no?"
"Shut up, Benik," snapped Olsen.
"In the war people used to accept the call-up because they knew there was a war to fight. If they didn't fight they would die, and everyone they knew and loved would die. But what motivation do they have now?" Sommer joined in.
It was a lot to take in, and the new recruits looked to their Sergeant for confirmation. It was clear that he was well aware of the situation, too.
"This is crazy," said Giles.
"Yes it is, but what do we do? We can't keep a massive prison population, and we can't force people to serve," replied Sommer.
"You said they need motivation, then give it to them. Tell them the truth, Colonel. Tell them why they are needed and what we are trying to achieve."
"That is not my call to make, Corporal. That is for the President. We are marines, and we serve the Alliance."
It was deeply frustrating, and they were all feeling it.
"So what then?"
"Like I said, we need anyone we can get. CJ and Razor, and the rejects they fly with are more capable than a battalion of marines today, no offence."
"They are really that special?" Benik once again looked to the Sergeant.
"They are reckless and unpredictable, but set them to a task, and they will see it to the end," he replied.
"Do you even know where to find them?" Munro asked.
"I've got a pretty good idea."
Beyond Earth- Civil War Page 10
