Betrayal

by E. Wayne Stucki

  Moments later the Kthpok OAC’s closed on the target island, swept over the beach of their target. Sand was thrown into the air and branches thrashed from the force of their passage. Flying creatures with multiple transparent wings, hard shells and many limbs appeared out of the trees and scattered from the sonic boom that marked the shuttles passage.

  Increasing their altitude Talon Force circled a large mountain range on the eastern side of the island to confirm the location of the target then headed for the island’s interior. An instant later they neared a valley containing a lake fed by a large river. This area had been selected to be the site of the Kthpok base on Main Hive because it was fairly level and had a fresh water supply.

  The OAC’s moved into a line to sweep across the target valley and a line of small objects tumbled from the open bay doors in the underbellies of the craft. An expanding, roiling cloud of flame and smoke engulfed the dense jungle that covered the valley floor when the objects reached the surface.

  Although the explosion was huge it couldn’t be seen from orbit unless magnified. But a signal from the commander of Talon Force brought more ships toward the planet from orbit. This time the two cruisers accompanied the OAC’s while the destroyers remained in orbit to provide cover. As the new force neared the island Talon circled for another run. More bombs sent another huge fireball skyward.

  The second fireball was dissipating when the next force arrived. This time there was no hesitation. Several of the assault shuttles broke formation to join Talon. Now reinforced, Talon continued to circle the target area looking for any sign of resistance. The rest of the OAC’s dropped towards the seared and smoldering surface. All vegetation had been obliterated in a rough circle of almost ten miles. Any creatures, which had inhabited the jungle in the target area, had been incinerated along with the vegetation.

  Shuttles landed to form a rough circular perimeter on the outer edges of the rough blackened landscape. Hatches opened in the grounded ships and Kthpok dressed in protective armor and armed with pulser rifles rushed out. They moved in a pre-determined pattern to take up defensive positions watching the jungle.

  The ground forces were still taking up their positions when the two cruisers landed. The weight of the ships drove their landing struts a meter into the ground. Once again hatches opened and more armored, armed Kthpok emerged. They ran out to join the Kthpok already on station. Several large weapons were driven out of their bays and set up in strategic locations.

  After the perimeter was confirmed secure more Kthpok left the cruisers. Instead of heading out to join the Kthpok guarding the perimeter the new pack moved off to one side and waited for their equipment to be brought out. More vehicles carrying several heavy crates appeared and rolled down the ramp. The equipment and Kthpok had been transferred to the cruisers from the Colony ships while in orbit. For this particular operation S’Cinf wasn’t going to risk a Colony Ship.

  With their delivery made and the blast areas confirmed clear ramps were raised and the launch drives on both cruisers fired. The two ships lifted off in clouds of ash and dust to move for orbit. If the forces on the ground and in the air were threatened beyond their capability to defend the admiral was confident he had sufficient strength in orbit to provide cover.

  As the cruisers were launching the engineers opened the crates they’d brought with them and began to assemble control modules. At a command from Major T’Von, who commanded the ground forces, a pack of Kthpok with tanks on their backs and wielding sprayers moved forward into the area designated to become the space port. They used a spray to settle any ash that was suspended in the air from the bombing, landing and launching.

  After it’d been confirmed that the particulates in the air had been dealt with the rest of the engineers spread over the interior of the target area with survey equipment. Care was taken to avoid putting more dust into the air. Handheld computers were consulted as mirrors and lasers were positioned.

  An hour after the two cruisers had left for orbit four square miles within the perimeter had been marked off with lasers and mirrors. All the equipment from the crates had been unpacked and set up. T’Von went off to check defensive positions along the perimeter leaving P’Stem, the chief engineer, to oversee the rest of the operation.

  P’Stem made a visual check to make sure his Kthpok were clear of the area. Sergeant T’Vok, who operated of the Laser Command Module, confirmed all mirrors were positioned properly. At the chief engineers command lasers were activated sending out beams of intense light. Rock and ash above a certain height were seared into slag or incinerated as the coherent light lanced forward. Mirrors bounced the beams into an intricate web until the entire area was covered in a blanket of blinding white light. After their equipment confirmed the lasers had reached all mirrors for five minutes another command was given and the beams of light were cut off. What was once a cratered, rough terrain was now a large relatively flat area of blackened, seared slag.

  By this time just under three hour’s had passed since Talon Force had entered the atmosphere of Main Hive. At the four-hour mark the OAC’s circling overhead blasted for orbit to be replaced by a new force whose packs were fresh and alert. On the surface, Major T’Von also rotated out those who’d been on guard duty and given time to rest. Others took up the task of defending perimeter. These measures were necessary to maintain the proper level of security while the area slated to become a space port cooled.

  An hour after the lasers had cut off packs of engineers moved up to the slag again, instruments checking the terrain. A moment later P’Stem spoke into his throat speaker. “It’s cool enough,” he announced to his engineers. “You know the intervals, let’s get the equipment set. And if this doesn’t work the Run Point’ll have our tails on his wall.”

  Under the watchful eyes of the circling ships and guarded by the ground packs engineers spread over the still warm mass in pairs. One would consult a handheld device and give directions to the other who would place a device on the surface.

  This step took another couple of hours to complete. When all the devices had been placed and the engineers clear of the area P’Stem nodded to T’Vok. Weak infrared lasers speared out through the grid and several went off target. The sergeant directed three teams of the engineers to reposition several of the devices. As they made the adjustments the Chief Engineer kept an eye on his equipment to make sure the devices were positioned just right.

  When he was satisfied the devices were in position P’Stem called his pack together one last time before the next phase began. Dusk was starting to fall bringing a red glow to the western sky. “Pick up your weapons,” he ordered and watched as each Kthpok went to another crate, were handed a pulser rifle and confirmed its power levels. Although they were engineers they understood that since leaving their home system they’d become soldiers protecting the last of the Kthpok people. There was no such thing as a civilian anymore. When he was certain they were ready he continued. “Take your positions on the perimeter. You’ll be reinforcing units already in position. If this site is attacked I don’t want the enemy coming through us.” At the bob of his head the Kthpok shouldered their packs, held their weapons ready and scampered out to the perimeter.

  As his Pack left for their new positions the Chief Engineer activated his communications. “This is engineering,” he called on a frequency heard by everyone on the project. It was also transmitted to the Center Room of the Raging where Run Point S’Cinf was listening. “Final conversion is ready, place your glasses. Activation in ten.” He shut off the transmitter and pulled on dark glasses. Then he pushed a button on a timer, grabbed his own pulser rifle and raced for the perimeter. His neck and tail were stretched out full length as he ran for cover at full speed. P’Stem leapt over a slight rise and dropped into a depression where others of his pack waited.

  Just as he was peering over the lip of his defensive position at the wilted and scorched jungle beyond a flash illuminated the vegetation in front, driving away the growing s
hadows of oncoming night. P’Stem felt an intense heat on his back but forced down the impulse to turn and look.

  The button the Chief Engineer had pushed started a countdown. At zero all the devices the engineers had carefully placed emitted an intense heat directed into the ground. It was so hot that the soil and everything in it was fused into a solid black mass to a depth of five meters. That created a single landing slab which was more than adequate to support the combined mass of all three Colony ships.

  P’Stem continued to watch the jungle as the shadows erased by the surface flare returned. Then he grinned. It was unfortunate that their position wasn’t being attacked when the devices were activated. The flash would’ve blinded any enemy and the Kthpok would have cut their attackers to shreds of quivering meat. In fact, he wished he could have used tactics like that on the humans. It would have been even better if humans were in the actual target area when the devices were activated.

  He gave a resigned twitch of his tail and took off the glasses. “Oh well,” he muttered, “one can’t have everything.” Now all they had to do was wait through the night for the just melted landing strip to cool. Then their ships would land and they could begin construction.

  Chapter 5

  Swarm Master Zelof reached out with a true-hand to restart the sequence. A large view screen on the bulkhead of the office facing his desk flickered to life once again. He leaned forward to watch hoping, perhaps this time, to find something he’d missed earlier. Since the whole operation had taken almost a day to accomplish this playback had been set at high speed. If he saw something that caught his attention he’d be able to slow it down for a closer look.

  Because this was the eighteenth or nineteenth time he’d gone through this particular visual record he provided narration. “The assault ships enter the atmosphere,” Zelof muttered. “Come in over the ocean. Pop up now. Circle mountains. Approach. Bombs drop.”

  His litany of events was interrupted by a soft attention tone. He started at the unexpected sound and looked down at his console to see a flashing alert light next to the keypad. “Just what I need,” he said, “another interruption.” This was the third time in an hour. How was he supposed to find anything if they kept interrupting? After giving a sign or resignation he entered a sequence on the keypad to freeze the record he’d been watching. Then Zelof released the door and turned to his right to see Sesum enter his office carrying an electronic pad.

  The Swarm Second noted the images on the room’s screen as soon as the door opened. Gesturing with a pad at the frozen image of a Kthpok assault ship Sesum asked, “haven’t you worn out that segment yet?” He continued through the room and held out the pad to his commander.

  Zelof chuckled as he took the device from his Second. A wave from his antennae sent Sesum to a seat. The Iidx took a cushioned saddle which gave him a view of the screen yet was close to Zelof. “The only reason this hasn’t worn out is because it’s digital,” said the Swarm Master as he nodded at the screen. “What’ve you got for me?”

  Sesum reached across the desk with a true-hand to activate the device and said, “It’s the list of supplies the Kthpok have requested for the construction of their base on the surface as well as the plans for the facilities.”

  The Swarm Master was silent for a moment as he read the items scrolling down the screen. Then he paused the scrolling and looked up. “All these items seem innocent enough,” he said as he gestured with the pad. “There’s a request for cable, ductwork, ceramacrete, and other construction materials.”

  “Everything needed to construct a base,” commented Sesum with a shrug. “Pretty much what you’d expect.”

  “But there’s a few odd items buried in here,” said Zelof a moment as he resumed the list. “From this,” he gestured with the pad again, “it appears that they want to construct a ship repair yard on the island.” He glanced over at his Second. “Don’t they think our facilities in orbit are good enough to work on their ships?”

  Sesum waved his antennae to show his ignorance. “The Presiding Assembly’s offered unlimited assistance and easy access to our ship repair yards in orbit. As you know it’s more effective and economic to do those repairs in weightless conditions. They even guaranteed the Kthpok priority over our own ships. When the offer was sent the Kthpok didn’t even use the façade of thinking it over. Their response came back without hesitation couched in a lot of diplomatic verbiage. The translation was ‘thanks but no’”

  Zelof leaned back on his saddle, his antennae beginning to give thoughtful waves. “Did they say why? Or are we supposed to take everything they do on faith?”

  The Second gestured with a true-hand to reflect his understanding of the Swarm Master’s frustration. “The only reason they gave for the refusal was that it involved the ‘security’ of the Kthpok people,” he said.

  Zelof grunted. “It seems ‘security’ provides cover for a large range of denials,” he commented then returned to reading the list.

  “General plans for their base,” he repeated a moment later. “They’ve identified the various buildings for us. I see living quarters, supply, communications, power, repair and so forth.”

  He paused again then looked up. “Now this is interesting,” he said. “There’s large power conduits’ coming from the generating facility and going to structures at various locations on the perimeter of their base.”

  The Second nodded. “I knew you’d notice those and had them examined. Analysts have reviewed the plans and said that it appears the Kthpok are preparing defenses.”

  “Defenses!” exclaimed Zelof sitting a little straighter, his antennae rigid with surprise. “What do they need defenses for? There’s no one attacking them. Besides they’re under our protection!” He gave a snort of disgust. “Or do they think the human’s followed them here?”

  “Defenses,” confirmed Sesum and added a definite shake of his head. “From the list of supplies requested we think the base will be surrounded by an electrified fence. That only gives a partial explanation for the large power lines running out to the perimeter. The structures you noticed will probably house large crew served lasers.”

  “Squad lasers! What do they think’s in the jungle that needs a laser powerful enough to take out armored equipment?” asked Zelof.

  “We put them on an island after evacuating the inhabitants, guarantee their safety with our Space Swarm and they build defenses,” he grumbled.

  “It doesn’t sound right does it?” said Sesum.

  Instead of answering the Swarm Masters right middle leg began stroking his back legs producing a soothing tone. The Second settled back to wait. He’d learned from long experience not to interrupt when his commander was thinking over a situation.

  A moment later, when the rubbing and tone stopped, Sesum came alert, pulled another electronic pad from his harness, and waited for the barrage of orders to come. He wasn’t disappointed.

  “Have the task force maintain the orbital quarantine,” the Swarm Master began. “If the Kthpok are this paranoid about a nonexistent enemy on Tarren anything could set them off. Imagine what they’d do if a business yacht closed with one of their ships in orbit and requested docking privileges. The Kthpok might not appreciate being approached for a business deal. Especially if it’s unannounced. Chances are they’d blow the yacht into flaming gas without a warning and create an interstellar ‘incident’.

  “Now, besides keeping the tourists away, our ships are to keep a watchful eye on the Kthpok. I don’t want our ‘guests’ to sneeze or dump their trash without me being notified.”

  He paused in his orders and glanced at the image of a vessel frozen in attack on the screen. “I understand the three largest vessels have already landed. The ones that were undamaged.”

  “That’s correct,” said Sesum. “After their practice assault on Tarren and the construction of the landing slab those three vessels grounded. Some Kthpok from those ships have started unloading equipment while others are involved in the c
onstruction of their facilities.” He paused for a moment then thoughtfully added, “it’s amazing how well prepared the Kthpok are. It seems they have all the equipment needed to start a colony.”

  “And their methods in place for building their base up from nothing are very efficient,” the Swarm Master added. “This isn’t something they’re doing off the antennae. It’s too well thought out. I think it’s fortunate for them everything was ready for something like this when the humans attacked.”

  “That’s awfully fortunate,” agreed Sesum. “Too fortunate, perhaps?” he wondered. “Or was this planned?”

  “Another unanswered question!” shot Zelof. “We need answers not more questions!” Sesum nodded his agreement.

  “OK. We’ve got our Swarm watching the Kthpok ships in orbit,” mused the Swarm Master turning back from the screen. “But we have no assets on Tarren to see what they’re doing. So I want to take care of that little oversight. Have the Swarm place several observation satellites in geosynchronous orbit over the island. All levels of magnification and bandwidths are to be covered. If a Kthpok gets sick or goes for a walk in the jungle I want to know about it.”

  “You’re going to spy on them?”

  From the stiffness of his Seconds antennae Zelof could see that the Iidx was surprised. “That’s such a harsh term,” he said and gave an amused shake from his antennae. “For any who ask about the satellites tell them we’re concerned for the safety of our new friends. They’re new here so they’re unfamiliar with the dangers a jungle on our planet will have. And since they have no shells they’re even more vulnerable than we are. In order to provide timely assistance we need to be aware of any and all problems.”

  Sesum waved his understanding as he considered what his commander had said. “That’s true. We can’t help if we don’t know when there’s a problem. Particularly since the Kthpok are adamant in not allowing any ‘unauthorized’ personnel access to their surface facilities.”