Betrayal

by E. Wayne Stucki

  “The linguistic team’s already been at work for most of the day,” informed Sesum. He gave a slight shrug when he saw the Swarm Masters questioning dip of antennae. “They began just before we started for home.

  “When his group was assigned to learn Kthpok the head linguist requested a dedicated line to the Kthpok flagship.” He gave an amused bob from his antennae. “That was his first task, of course. It took him a while to get our intent across to the Kthpok but once they understood what we wanted they agreed. A link was established and the language lessons begun. It won’t complicate any maneuvers we may have to take, as you’ve seen, but it has allowed us to get a head start on the process.”

  “The Kthpok were agreeable?” repeated Zelof.

  “As far as we can tell, they’re enthusiastic.” He gave another amused wave from his antennae. “But who can tell what the Tails are thinking? They have no antennae. Though it seems they had similar ideas because Kthpok were available to begin.”

  Zelof waved an uncertain understanding then sent his Second off to get some rest. He turned back to study the Plot as he pondered. They’d begun well. The Iidx had met their first alien species and was escorting them home. Communication had been established and languages were being learned. All without an exchange of missiles and lasers. Everything had been very peaceful and civilized. He just hoped it was enough and would last. As he checked the convoy’s formation unease began to irritate just under the shell between his antennae.

  On the day after assuming formation and starting for Main Hive Zelof was back in his office reviewing reports and catching up on paperwork. He finished reading a report on the ship’s reactors, keyed his acknowledgement and cleared the screen. Then he called up the statistics of the remaining reports. “You’ve got to be kidding,” muttered Zelof and his antennae drooped. He’d already completed ten reports but fourteen were waiting for his review.

  “Is that right?” he wondered. It seemed that when he started going through reports there were less than sixteen in the queue not twenty-four. A quick check revealed that his impression was correct. While he’d been reading and approving reports several others had been posted to his account. “How’m I supposed to get anything done if this keeps up?” he complained.

  He was keying another report to his screen when an attention tone sounded. “Thank the Egg,” he muttered. “Maybe it’s something disastrous that’ll clear this mess away.” The Swarm Master pushed the acknowledge button and waited for the Iidx to respond.

  “The Second told me you were not to be interrupted until we were well on our way to Main Hive, Swarm Master,” said Lieutenant Funtel from communications.

  “That’s correct, Lieutenant,” said Zelof. “I gave him those instructions. So why interrupt me now?”

  “Sorry, sir. Normally I wouldn’t have done so until my instructions were changed but there’s all these messages.”

  “Messages?” prompted the Swarm Master.

  “Your queue is full of calls from Main Hive and more are coming in. That’s why I contacted you, sir. If we don’t dump some of those messages soon we won’t be able to receive any more. And…”

  The Swarm Master interrupted, “and some of those we miss might be important.”

  “I’m glad you understand our problem, Swarm Master,” said the Lieutenant.

  Even though Funtel couldn’t see what he was doing Zelof’s antennae waved his approval. “I’ll go through the messages and clear them out, Lieutenant,” he said and cut the link.

  The Swarm Master put the report that’d just come to the screen into the background and called up his messages. When he saw the number of calls waiting for him he regretted promising to clear them out. Then his next thought was to do a global delete. That would clear the file and solve communications problem. But that wouldn’t work. At last he decided to check the messages anyway in the off chance there really might be something important.

  After he’d read and deleted the first ten messages he leaned back from his console in disgust. What was he thinking to do this? He was the Swarm Master after all. Didn’t rank have any privileges? As he scanned the summary banners of those messages that remained it seemed that every news organization, every center of learning and research were trying to get information on the Kthpok. And it seemed all were asking the same questions. It’d take him hours to read and clear these messages. Hours that he didn’t have if he wanted to finish the reports that really were his responsibility. Then he had an inspiration and keyed for Lieutenant Funtel.

  After the Iidx in communications acknowledged the Swarm Master said, “general broadcast to those in my comm queue, Lieutenant. Message begins: ‘No unauthorized information can be given out by this Swarm. Only the Hive of Information with the Council of Queens is authorized to release information regarding the Kthpok. Those who wish information regarding the Kthpok should go through proper channels.’ That’s the message. After that broadcast’s been sent do not accept or acknowledge any transmission but those from Swarm Control. Dump any messages already received based on the same criteria.”

  A few moments later, after he finished reading and approving another scintillating report, Zelof called up his communications file. He bobbed his head in silent approval. It worked. His file contained just two messages. Those he opened and read.

  If the Swarm Master thought his only problem was in receiving unwanted communications he was wrong. Several hours later he was still in his office reviewing reports when Sesum requested entrance. Zelof keyed the door open and watched his Second move into the room.

  The Second had just settled onto a saddle on the other side of the Swarm Master’s desk when Zelof spoke. “Sesum, I’m glad you’re here. I was about to call for you.” He indicated his monitor which displayed the report he’d been reading. “I’ve been reviewing the report from our linguists and want your impression on something.”

  Sesum waved his antennae in acknowledgement. “How can I help, Swarm Master?” he asked.

  “Besides helping our Swarm learn their language it seems the Kthpok’ve been learning ours as well,” Zelof replied.

  “And?”

  “Isn’t that suspicious?”

  The Second leaned forward and asked, “you’re suggesting that it’s suspicious for an alien race to learn our language in our system?” His antennae waved in disagreement. “They’re in our system, sir. It’s only good manners for them to learn our language.

  “Look back at our own history. When one Hive discovered another both learned the language of the other if they wanted to live in peace.” He gave a shrug. “The Kthpok seem to be following that process.”

  “But that could be their plan,” argued Zelof. “Touch all the right steps to ease our concerns. Then when our levels of alert have been reduced they attack.”

  The Second started to say something but stopped, his antennae giving agitated jerks. Zelof noted his subordinate’s reaction and gave an amused bob of his own antennae, “now I’m getting too paranoid, aren’t I?” Sesum bowed his head and the Swarm Master chuckled. “All right. All right. I’ll do better. Now that I’ve been properly chastised, what brings you here?”

  “We’re still six or seven days from Main Hive and we’ve got visitors who want to join the escort,” replied Sesum. “Long range scans show there’s more coming.”

  “Visitors,” repeated Zelof. “Who are they?”

  “Business vessels, passenger liners and private yachts.”

  “Oh, Shells!” groaned the Swarm Master, “tourists!”

  His Second waved agreement with his antennae. “For now they’ve been keeping their distance, content at taking pictures and moving along with us.”

  “I’m sure that’ll change,” said Zelof. “And when it does I want to be ready. Get a message off to Swarm Command. We’ll need more ships to patrol our perimeter and keep those idiots off. The reinforcements will have to be fast and strong enough to enforce quarantine.” He paused as he considered what would be requir
ed. Then he nodded and continued. “Destroyers have the speed and armament to enforce the perimeter. We won’t need anything bigger.”

  Zelof worked his console and called a picture of the largest Kthpok ship to the room’s main screen. He directed Sesum’s attention to the image. “These Kthpok have developed a technology which allowed them to cross interstellar space. That’s something we presently don’t have.” He glanced over at Sesum. “Can you imagine being able to leave our Hive system and explore new systems?” Zelof shook his head at the idea. “Who knows what else they might have?

  “Since they’re going to need our help they’ll want to be nice and cooperative, maybe they’ll even be willing to trade their technology for what we can supply,” he added. “But they won’t give us anything if they feel threatened. So we need to keep the tourists off!”

  Sesum bobbed his agreement causing his antennae to wave. “I’ll get the call out to Swarm Command. We should get additional ships within a day or two.”

  “Good,” said Zelof. “Until they arrive we need to set up our own patrols. I want the dreadnoughts and battleships to remain in position. Their task is to watch the Kthpok. All the other ships of the Swarm are to maintain quarantine. I don’t want any of the tourists inside the perimeter. If they ignore warnings deadly force is approved.” He thought for a moment then added. “We’d better have communications send a general broadcast to that effect or some idiot’ll try and get blasted.”

  Once again the Second bobbed his head. “After the call goes to Swarm Command for the additional ships I’ll have the Section Masters work out the patrol schedule for your approval.”

  Zelof waved agreement with his antennae. “On your way then,” he said. As the Second left his saddle to leave the Swarm Master began to key in the codes for the communications suite. “You do that and I’ll get the warning broadcast sent to the tourists,” he said.

  For the next several days Zelof had a continuous string of reports on the progress made in learning languages and of ships being turned away from the convoy. Then a day from Main Hive a new message was received from Swarm Command. Moments after taking the message on his Control Console in the Main Room. he contacted Commander Utanic at Navigation. “We’ve been given the destination for the Kthpok on Main Hive, Commander” he announced. “I’ve transferred the coordinates to your station.” The Swarm Master watched at Utanic made a few entries on his own equipment then dipped one antenna to confirm receipt of the data. “I want to know where that is” said Zelof

  The navigator worked his equipment for several minutes then sent the requested information to the Swarm Masters console. Zelof activated the file and settled back to watch his screen. First he saw the image of Main Hive as seen from high orbit. The blue, green, and white planet stood out in stark contrast to the darkness of space. Then a bright red dot began blinking near the equator. A closer image showed the outlines of continents and the oceans. The blinking dot was placed in the Rosen Ocean a short distance from the nearest continent, Paccu. Before he could contact Utanic to ask if there was a mistake the image shifted again. The magnification and resolution of the screen increased. This time Zelof saw that the projected landing site for the Kthpok was on a large island.

  Pictures of the island followed showing verdant rain forests, wide rivers, lakes and mountains. The Swarm Master sat forward and stared. “That appears to be similar to their home world,” he muttered. “Or at least it’s like what the Kthpok showed us. And it explains why the Queen’s wanted them on Main Hive. New Hive was probably too cold.” Although he was impressed by the Councils efforts to accommodate the Kthpok his unease remained.

  In anticipation of what Zelof would want to know statistics began to appear. The Swarm Master glanced over at the navigation officer pleased that his officers were as intelligent as advertised and acted on their own initiative. Then he turned back to his console and began to read. A moment later his head bobbed in approval. At least the Council had selected a remote, less populated site for the Kthpok to use.

  Zelof signaled for Sesum to come over as he continued to read. “The Queen’s have selected a location for the Kthpok to rest and make repairs,” the Swarm Master announced when the Second arrived. “It’s on Tarren.” When the Second drooped his antennas in question Zelof continued. “That’s an island about one fourth the size of Paccu in the Rosen Ocean a short distance off the east coast of that continent.”

  “That still doesn’t help me,” said Sesum waving his antennae in amusement. “But I’m sure the Council has provided coordinates?”

  “They have. Besides being isolated, there are very few inhabitants.” Zelof smiled. “The island’s been a preserve where biologists could study the environment. It also contains one of the remaining original hives. But no one lives in it now. It’s so isolated from general society that there’s no tourists.”

  “Is this hive maintained?” the Second asked.

  The Swarm Master nodded. “Only as a relic of a primitive past. There’s a caretaker crew, airport, and support facilities and that’s it. But the airport won’t support space vessels. A space port’ll have to be constructed.”

  “And that’s where the Kthpok are going?” Once again Zelof nodded. “At least our tax funds for that area will finally be useful,” said Sesum.

  The Swarm Master gave an amused bob from his antennae then said, “Have our linguists prepare a message for the Kthpok in their language. We need to tell them where to land and make sure they get it. I want an acknowledgement they understand where they’re to go.”

  Sesum bobbed his understanding once again. “It wouldn’t do to have the Kthpok try to land on the Queen’s residence front lawn.”

  “They’d get blown into very little pieces of dust very fast if they did,” agreed Zelof.

  The Kthpok Run Point sat on his perch in the Center Room of his flagship and stared at the image of a planet on the screen. His posture still had a slight droop. A leftover from the intense period of stress from the first contact with the Iidx. There’d been a couple of days where he hadn’t slept, wondering if the Iidx would blast his fleet into flaming gas. Then the word came in that they’d be escorted to the Iidx home world by the intercepting force. After that was the movement by the Iidx ships. He’d recognized that movement could’ve been a pretense to get better lines of fire.

  With all the excitement going on he began to experience difficulties breathing. Noting the Run Point’s discomfort Admiral P’Mar had summoned a medical Pack to the Center Room. After their examination the medical people had told him that the amount of adrenaline coursing through his body could burst his heart if it wasn’t brought down soon. He was inclined to dismiss their insistence at reducing his stress at first. After all, he hadn’t experienced any problems during the humans War of Betrayal. When he pointed that out to a doctor the Kthpok reminded him that the situations were different. Then the Run Point was on a Colony Ship out of the line of fire. Now, he was potentially a target for a nuclear missile with no way out. Nor was he a soldier who’d been trained and conditioned to survive elevated levels of adrenaline for extended periods. There was no arguing with that logic. Once the Iidx maneuver was over and they’d begun the journey towards the inner planets he’d retired to his nest, taken a prescribed sedative and slept for twenty-four straight hours.

  Now, his people were in orbit between the Iidx home planet and its two moons. As he looked at the blue, green and white beauty shown on the screen it reminded him of the planet his people had lost to the humans so long ago and so far away. A moment later an attention tone sounded, breaking into S’Cinf’s thoughts. Then his monitor flashed to show Fleet Admiral P’Mar.

  “Have the Iidx been notified of our intentions?” S’Cinf asked without waiting for the flattering preamble.

  The admiral bobbed his head in reply. “They have, your Eminence, and, in return, the bugs have offered assistance in all phases of construction. I thanked them for their offer and declined. I told them the heav
y load on our small work force would help the Kthpok people forget, for a short time, the treachery of the humans and the loss of our home.”

  “Very good,” said the Run Point, his tail twitching in approval. “We’ve confirmed that we have our target? We don’t want to land in the wrong place.”

  Once again the Admiral bobbed his head. “It has been confirmed, your Eminence. There’s a homing beacon in place to guide us in.”

  “Very well. Since the Iidx are aware of our plans and we have our target send the signal to launch the first wave.” S’Cinf glared down at the monitor. “Make sure our people remember that our ‘hosts’ are watching everything they do. There can’t be any mistakes!”

  The Fleet Admiral bobbed his head in acknowledgement then disappeared from the screen and the monitor blanked. S’Cinf turned to watch the Battle Plot. A moment later the icons of several destroyers and two cruisers left their positions near the various capital ships they’d been protecting formed into a single pack and moved into geosynchronous orbit over their target. Moments later new icons appeared from the cruiser and rushed out to head for the planet.

  “Talon Force is entering the atmosphere,” called out R’Gon, the Battle Officer, from his station and S’Cinf shifted to a more comfortable position on his perch. As he pondered the plans which had been put in motion, he gave a hunter’s grin, showing his sharp teeth. It’d begun!

  The Orbital Assault Craft of Talon Force swept deeper into the planet's atmosphere, heading for their destination from over the ocean. A fiery reddish-orange glow surrounded the craft as their ceramic shields heated from the friction of deceleration from orbital speeds. They circled around to sweep in from the open ocean to take advantage of the sun just rising behind them. The ships even dropped to within several meters of the water to make themselves more difficult targets. The force of their passage kicked up tails of spray and left foam to mark their passage.