The Swarm Master sank back onto his saddle but didn’t ask the Queen to join him at the table. “We are not going to inform Geddon of anything,” he replied. “We’re going to remain silent and guard the secret of this facility.”
“But Queen Geddon…” started Dahoni but was interrupted by Zelof.
“Geddon and the Kthpok are going to be kept ignorant of you and this facility,” Zelof reiterated in stern tones. Then before the Queen could protest again he continued. “If you’ll recall the Kthpok hit Wartten with a nuclear missile. That wasn’t an isolated event, your Highness. They’ve been hitting targets all over Main Hive. If they learn this place exists they’ll attack again with more powerful weapons and rip this mountain wide open.”
“But Geddon is not senior!” insisted Dahoni. “I am! She has no right to speak for the Iidx people.”
“Who is senior isn’t important,” replied Zelof. “Protecting you and this facility is. Now in reviewing her messages it’s very evident that Queen Geddon has made a treaty with the Kthpok. Run Point S’Cinf has agreed to cease hostilities if the Iidx relocate our entire remaining population to certain designated cities. The Kthpok will get the rest of the planet.”
Queen Dahoni perked up at the announcement. “Since that’s the case I don’t understand your concern, Swarm Master,” she said. “Isn’t that good news? If hostilities have ceased and our people’s future secure why do we need to keep Refuge a secret?” Dahoni gave a shrug of her large, feathery antennae. “Geddon may be junior but it appears she’s reached a reasonable accommodation with our enemy. We’ll have to abandon this mountain, of course, and travel to one of the designated cities to keep to the terms of the agreement.” She nodded with decision. “I can inform Geddon of my presence on the journey to one of those cities but the important thing is that our people will remain.”
“You may believe the Kthpok will keep this treaty but I don’t,” Zelof said. “And my opinion is the only thing that matters right now. The Kthpok lied when they said they came in peace. They lied when they said they were going to leave our system to reclaim their Nest. They’re lying now. What I have to figure out is just what the Kthpok have in mind with this treaty thing. If I can do that before they’re ready for whatever it is we might be able to save lives.”
He picked up his pad and gestured for the Queen to leave. “Now, leave me,” he said. “I have some thinking to do. We’ll meet tomorrow to discuss what we need to do here in Refuge to accommodate younglings. It appears we may be here longer that I’d originally anticipated.”
With her antennae drooping Dahoni turned and followed Rayel out of the room.
Zelof focused on his notes and didn’t notice the door slide shut leaving him alone. He reached out to replay the series of messages again. It was replayed again. And again. “Of course!” he exclaimed after the fifth replay.
Straightening on his saddle the Swarm Master activated the recording mode on his communications set. He paused for a moment to organize his thoughts then began to dictate.
Five minutes later Zelof made an entry on his console and called the communications officer on the Command Deck. “I want a message sent to Sesum,” he told Lieutenant Chattan. “It’s in the outgoing list. Send it and get an acknowledgement, after that observe strict transmission silence. You can continue to monitor what’s happening worldwide but nothing goes out unless I’ve approved it personally.”
After Chattan repeated the order Zelof cut the link and leaned back. “At least the Kthpok are giving us some time for Sesum to get to the island,” he said. “I hope that while they’re watching for Iidx hiding in the jungles and mountains they’ll miss Sesum crossing the strait.”
Chapter 27
S’Cinf lounged on his perch in the observation room of his colony ship. Sounds considered soothing were piped in over speakers hidden in strategic locations. His fleet was still in orbit over the planet which was shown in the main viewport. Framed in one of the ports he saw the swirls of white and gray clouds which broke up the blue of oceans and the brown-green of the continents. The reflected light of Main Hive coming through the large observation windows bathed the room in a silvery hue. Although he hadn’t turned on any lights the Run Point could see every item of furniture in the room, every decoration on the walls.
The Run Point sipped a drink as he stared at the view and considered what he’d accomplished. On the Kthpok nest world unthinkably far away and many years ago he’d dreamed of ruling an entire world. At the time he’d been devising plans to conquer the other Runs on the planet. While he was still planning and preparing his people had reached the fourth planet in the system and were making it habitable. The new planet would do if his schemes of conquest weren’t feasible. But neither option had come to fruition by the time the humans revolted and the Kthpok had been forced to flee.
Now, with all the Kthpok people had been required to endure he was close to realizing his desire. While Main Hive wasn’t the planet he’d originally planned on ruling it would do. After securing this world his people would proceed to rebuild their ships and weapons and population. Then the Kthpok would return home to obliterate the humans. A smile crossed his snout. When that’d been accomplished he’d rule two, possibly three planets in two star systems. Other planets in other star systems would follow. He expected to be the first in a long line of Universe Points.
He craned his long neck around to look out another port at the ships of his fleet arrayed nearby. S’Cinf bared his teeth in a silent snarl. While his ships weren’t numberless they contained more than enough firepower to erase the Iidx from existence. And that happy event was in the not so distant future. Small flares of light on several nearby ships showed repairs were underway. Other dots of light moving towards still more vessels indicated resupply was being accomplished.
As the Run Point was looking out the observation port contemplating his future interplanetary empire a silence fell in the room then an attention tone sounded. Before he could reply the door to the lounge opened to let an officer in. The Kthpok hurried over and came to a stop just in front of S’Cinf. He went to attention and saluted. “I have the analysis of the Iidx population movements as you ordered, your Eminence,” he announced, dropped the salute and held out an electronic pad. “You stressed you wanted to see it as soon as it was completed.”
“Summarize the report, Lieutenant,” ordered S’Cinf as he noted the rank insignia on the Kthpok’s harness. He took the proffered pad. “I’ll read the details later.”
Lieutenant A’Tros dipped his head at the instructions. “Yes, your Eminence,” he said then glanced at a second pad he held, tilting the screen to catch the reflected light from Main Hive. “There’s been a steady movement of Iidx to the cities designated as safe zones,” he began. “Analysis projects that fifty-four percent of the Iidx population are either in the sanctuary cities or have been killed. Another thirty to thirty-five percent have been observed heading for those cities. The remaining eleven to sixteen percent is most likely staying in their nest cities or is disappearing into the jungles and mountains.”
The Kthpok leader raised a talon to scratch an itch above his right eye ridge as he considered. Then he looked out the observation window at the planet below. “How long has it been since the Iidx accepted my terms?” he asked.
“It’s been twenty days, Your Eminence,” reported the Lieutenant without having to consider his pad.
“They have ten days left then,” S’Cinf said and gave a sharp wave from his tail. “Let’s put some pressure on the Iidx,” he decided. “Notify Queen Geddon that I’m not satisfied with the pace of her people’s relocation. It must be expedited.” Unseen, the Lieutenant bobbed his head as he entered the instructions on his pad. “So Geddon will know I mean to be obeyed have three cities obliterated,” S’Cinf ordered.
“Do you have any preferences for the targets Run Point?”
The Kthpok leader thought for a moment then gave a shrug of his tail. He glanced back at th
e Lieutenant. “The analysts are to select the three non-sanctuary cities with the largest remaining population,” he said. “Having those destroyed should give Queen Geddon an indication of my resolve and provide an incentive for any hesitant Iidx to comply with my instructions.”
“It will be as ordered, sir,” replied A’Tros. “And those leaving for the jungles? What about them?”
“The raids may resume,” said S’Cinf and turned back to the view of the planet. “But they’re to be restricted to groups not heading for the designated cities.”
“And those already in the mountains and jungles?” wondered the Lieutenant still making entries on his pad.
The Run Point craned his long neck around once more to look at A’Tros. “In the coming years they’ll provide good hunting,” he replied with a teeth baring grin. “We may even establish preserves to keep some Iidx alive so we can hunt them. There’s also the possibility of using the remnants of this species in training exercises to hone the skills of future generations of infantry.” He gave a dismissive wave of a hand and turned back to the observation port.
At the unspoken command Lieutenant A’Tros saluted, whirled around and hurried out of the room. As the Lieutenant disappeared S’Cinf continued examining his fleet and the planet beyond. Moments later he saw three small bright dots flare from a nearby cruiser and dart towards the planet. S’Cinf nodded in approval. When all this was done and the Iidx were to all extent extinct he’d have to come up with a new name for the planet. Main Hive would never do for a Kthpok planet.
Sumlin took his time as he made his way down the avenue. In normal times he’d be dodging workers going about their duties; Iidx moving in and out of the buildings that lined the street. But this wasn’t normal times. All he could see now were one or two people in the distance and no sing of life in the buildings.
He was careful to stay on the sidewalk as close to the structures as possible to avoid being observed from the air. Since Queen Geddon’s announcement of a treaty with the Kthpok weeks ago almost three-quarters of the city’s population had left the city. A good portion of those who’d left had gone with their Queens to the designated sanctuary cities. But in an unprecedented show of rebellion a small number of City Under Queens had chosen to disobey the Council’s orders. Of course that meant the charges of those Under Queens had also disobeyed. When the migration to the sanctuary cities began a few of the rebellious Queens had also left only to disappear in the jungles. The other rebellions Queens remained in the city. Sumlin’s Queen had remained in the city.
He sensed a shift in his burden almost before it occurred. Dipping to one side and reaching back with a true-hand he was able to reposition the pack in the center of his abdomen. But the movement dislodged two boxes which tumbled to the ground. Careful not to upset the rest of his load he bent and scooped up both boxes with his hand-feet. After an examination showed nothing was wrong he continued on his way.
On occasion Sumlin would see an Iidx looking out of a lower window or door of a nearby building. They were careful to stay far enough indoors so aircraft or satellites couldn’t spot them. The few Queens who’d remained in the city had decreed that all the inhabitants should remain hidden as much as possible. They wanted the Kthpok to think the city was deserted, that all the Iidx had gone to the Sanctuary Cities. Their hope was that if their enemy thought the city was empty the Iidx would be left alone. And if that happened the Iidx hidden there could live out their lives in peace.
An excited chittering caught his attention. Sumlin cocked his head and waved his antennae to find its source. Retracing his steps a short distance he was able to look down a narrow alley that branched off the avenue he’d been following. He discovered a small group of younglings just coming out of a nearby building. Sumlin nodded in approval. There was little chance of their being observed there. He watched for a moment as the group organized a game suitable for the narrow space.
While his attention was on the younglings Sumlin didn’t see the bright streak move across the sky. Anyone who did would have thought it was a meteor or piece of battle debris burning up as it fell from orbit. But they would’ve been wrong.
The missile drove to the center of the city and detonated a thousand feet above the main plaza. There was an intense flash of light followed by a shock wave of plasma. The explosion obliterated almost half the city in an instant. From there the shock wave raged outward, shattering buildings, throwing rocks and debris around. The plasma incinerated wood, plastic and Iidx alike while metal and stone ran like water then evaporated. An instant later an inner wave of superheated air was sucked back into the void created by the nuclear explosion. A mushroom cloud of smoke, fire and ash rose into the sky leaving behind a cooling radioactive wasteland of blackened slag.
There were a few Iidx in the city fortunate enough to have been deep enough underground in basements, cellars and storage rooms and so survived the initial blast. But their chances of surviving long term were remote. All the exits and airshafts had collapsed or were melted shut and there was no one left to attempt a rescue. The buried Iidx would die when the air inside the tunnels and rooms ran out.
Of the three million Iidx who’d remained in the city only forty-two survived to escape into the surrounding hills. Those lucky few, guardians and the younglings in their charge, had been shielded from the blast by a range of hills while on a field trip visiting the cities agricultural areas.
Queen Begiddion studied the map spread out on a table next to her saddle. She used a finger of a true-hand to trace the route her convoy had taken. Rather than submitting to the demands of murderers the Regional Queen intended for her people to hide and ordered the City Queens under her command to gather their people and move into the jungles and mountains. They were not to go to the sanctuary cities detailed by Queen Geddon.
Begiddion suspected that her superior expected the Kthpok to leave Main Hive in twenty to thirty years. When that happened the Iidx would emerge from hiding and rebuild their civilization. The Queen gave a shake of her head. There was no reasonable expectation the Kthpok would leave. This planet was a very hospitable place to live after all. She expected the Kthpok to stay.
While the other Queens in the region were going into jungles Begiddion’s destination was different. During her first years as a City Queen and as part of her self-imposed orientation process she’d spent some time going through the hive records available to Queens in the Council’s archives. She’d learned of an ancient hive buried in the mountains on the other side of the prairie they were crossing. It was so old and had been abandoned for so long that the Kthpok couldn’t know of its existence. In fact, it was pre-tech and wouldn’t draw the Kthpok’s attention even if they did learn of it. When the order came to hide Begiddion had remembered the ancient hive and determined to go there. She’d decided her people would be safer inside a mountain than a jungle. It’d also be more comfortable. Another positive factor was that this hive was only five hours drive from their city.
The Queen tapped the map then glanced at a nearby monitor. It showed a much less detailed copy of her map but a blinking light indicated their progress along their route. “Almost to the forests,” she commented to the Iidx in the room with her. “Once under the trees we’ll be hidden from hostile eyes. Two hours after that we’ll reach the new hive.” She rolled up the map and handed it to an aide then stood from her saddle.
Compared to the other compartments of her command vehicle the Queen’s Suite was spacious. Situated immediately behind the drivers compartment in the center of the large vehicle it had no windows but was considered the safest place Begiddion could be. At the far end of the room was an electronics suite with radios and scanners. One Iidx was at the radio station keeping in contact with the vehicles of the convoy. Another was trying to listen in on Kthpok conversations to see if he could determine what, if anything, the enemy were doing. Two others, her current brood males, were resting on saddles near the entrance reading electronic pads, waiting for the
Queen to give them something to do.
Leaving her saddle Begiddion took a few steps to the center of the compartment and stood on a riser placed there. She pushed a button that slid open a hatch in the ceiling then poked her head out of the vehicle. Begiddion emerged in a clear observation bubble in the roof of the vehicle. Ignoring the noise of the wind against the bubble she looked back the way they were going. Stretching out behind her command vehicle was a long double line of transports. There was close to two hundred ranging from personal cars to public transit buses. Each vehicle was filled with as many Iidx as it could hold. Mingled among the personnel carriers were freighters filled with supplies and equipment.
A touch on a leg caught Begiddion’s attention. She ducked back into the compartment and asked, “What?”
Tacom, one of her aides and a potential mate, pointed in the direction their convoy was heading. “Your Highness, the drivers report something unusual,” he said. “There seems to be a dark line parallel to our course.” He paused for a moment, listening to another message coming over his head-set from the drivers. “Actually there’s two lines your Highness; one on each side of the road.”
“Two lines?” repeated Begiddion. “That’s odd.”
Returning to the riser, she poked her head back into the observation bubble and directed her attention forward. The additional height gave her a better view than the drivers. There it was; a dark line. But as she stared she realized it wasn’t a line and the blackness was stretching into the sky. The Queen dropped back into the vehicle. “That line is smoke from a grass fire,” she announced to her staff. “Since it’s the dry season the prairie grass is tinder dry.”
Begiddion paused and cocked her head as she considered their predicament then spoke again. “We can’t stop to wait until the fire goes out. We’re vulnerable out here in the open. We’d better slow down until we see how intense the heat is.” She thought for a moment more then gave another command. “Have the convoy go to single file and remain in the center of the road, proper spacing is to be maintained. That should protect everyone from the heat.”
Betrayal Page 51
