by Chris Burton
The message details were downloaded by Jonathan Hoskins forty-five minutes later. The headline details had his attention immediately.
Antirillium Radiation will kill ninety percent of Kryl within a matter of minutes. The Contingency Fleet is tasked with locating a source, extracting and delivering the radiation in weaponry form directly to the Kryl fleet.
He read the first few pages of the report before opening a comm.link to Admiral Martin.
“Hi, Robert. I presume you have seen the Intel headline?”
“Yes, Jonathan…but the devil is in the details. It is not going to be easy to extract. We need to respond to this quickly by sending a fast cruiser to the coordinates noted. How is Commander Jacques getting on with his new command?”
“He is the perfect man for the job. The Halo can get there inside a month and start to set things up. They will need technical assistance.”
“Of course. I will arrange at this end. Can you brief Commander Jacques? I will also coordinate a support fleet of cruisers. If we are to attack them with radiation, I propose that an advance fleet delivers it—commanded by you—with the main fleet following on and cleaning up.”
“Sounds like a plan. Okay, I will speak to Jean-Luc and get up to speed and perhaps we can meet later to discuss in detail.”
Hoskins closed the link and poured himself a fresh cup of coffee. It was time to absorb the full content of the report.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
A Growing “Friendship”
Major Carla Stevenson had been visiting the Queen on a regular basis for some weeks. She no longer feared her and knew the Queen had developed a grudging respect for her. The feeling was mutual.
Today, she visited the senate headquarters before she took the fast shuttle service to the Queen ship. A scheduled meeting with Colonel Harrington just came to an end.
“Carla…before you leave, I think it is about time we discussed you and I and what went on before. We have been ignoring each other, personally these past few weeks.”
“That was a long time ago. It was a one-off and it should not have happened. I would rather not talk about it, sir.”
“Why the formality ? We have been close to each other for a long time now. We had something special. Surely you don’t deny it?”
“Yes, I do Colonel and it was not special. I was very drunk and you took advantage of me. If there is nothing else, I must get to my shuttle.”
“That is a little unfair. I remember you were not shy about coming forward.”
“Goddamn it. I was drunk, you fuck! We discussed this already and you agreed to back off. Why have you brought this up again after so long?”
“I can’t stop thinking about you, Carla. I tried to bury my feelings, but every time I see you…”
“Sir. With respect, I need you to back off. We are looking at professional integrity here…I am leaving now.”
Carla stood her ground for a moment, hoping and praying he would not provoke her further. He didn’t and she stood and, without further comment, exited Harrington’s office. She doubted whether she had heard the last of this.
She headed towards the shuttle and boarded immediately. The pilot was already seated and gained immediate clearance. Traffic to and from the Queen’s ship was always given the highest priority. Carla took a few moments to get comfortable and then sat back to contemplate her forthcoming meeting.
It did not take long before her mind returned to Harrington. He was really taking the piss now. The irony was she enjoyed his company. But if he persisted she might have to make it official and that would change everything. Not that she could change her current destiny, she was the Queen’s human confident and she would remain so, until the Queen tired of her company.
The shuttle entered the Queen’s ship’s huge docking bay moments later and Carla prepared herself to depart. Five minutes later, she was whisked by direct elevator to the Queen’s sanctuary. Her two drones followed her in as she walked purposefully towards the Queen’s throne. They stood back when the Queen beckoned Carla forward.
“You seem troubled again, Carla. Colonel Harrington has been disturbing you again. I will not stand by and allow my friend to be treated badly.”
“Please, Trieste. This is my problem and I have sorted it out. His heart is in the right place. He just has feelings for me, which I don’t for him.”
“I will allow it to pass on this occasion. However, you must not allow this man near you again. I would far rather you were disturbed with thoughts of Jake Carter. He will return soon, you know.”
Carla was used to the Queen’s digging tactics. She hoped to provoke Carla into thinking about Jake and how he might soon be here. From there, she could try to extract information about Alpha’s plans. It was a tactic she started and usually ended with, but Carla would simply divert the question with one of her own.
“Do you have any info leading you to believe that Jake will soon be coming home?”
Trieste smiled, revealing her hideously putrid and graying teeth. A sight Carla never grew used to.
“No. I have not. One of us will soon, though; I am sure. I understand that a new HSL list has been distributed.”
“Yes, I believe so. The Kryl’s involvement will be more significant than that proposed by the agreement. This will not be a popular decision.”
“What do you mean?”
Gold dust. Anything which showed a rift or lack of understanding between the Queen and her Kronan was good news and should be exploited.
“Safrec ordered all collection centers to be managed and secured by the Kryl…and any persons on the list who fail to arrive at the collection centers will be “collected” by the Kryl. Did you not know?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Safrec also advised that if a list member cannot be traced, a family member would be taken in their place. He was not specific about whom. I presume anyone—including children—are at risk.”
Carla was loading the issue now. Making the controversial decision by Safrec seem to be out of touch and unnecessary.
“I thought you said the Kryl were looking for a compassionate and reasoned method of collection. This contradicts that.”
The Queen was angry, but she maintained her stance.
“I will discuss this with Safrec. I am sure there is a good reason. Shall we move on?”
Carla made her point, but she had Trieste on the back foot and intended to keep her that way.”You were going to tell me about your cryogenic facilities.”
“Yes, of course…I told you that we had chambers in our living accommodation for those resting, while our scientists seek a cure for various conditions.”
“Are there many Kryl in stasis?”
“Yes, millions of Kryl. One day—when cures are found—our population will increase markedly.”
“You talk about it, as if your scientists will find a cure for everything in one go.”
“There is one condition in particular which troubles the Kryl more than any other.”
Carla sensed a depth of feeling in the Kryl Queen’s voice. Her job was to solicit information…but the growing respect she had for the Queen, made her reluctant to pursue this. Still, she had to do her job and an illness effecting large numbers of Kryl was a weakness Alpha could exploit.
“What type of disease is it? Our own medical experts may be able to help.”
“No! Your people help us too much already. The sacrifice of your people provides relief to the sick and sustains lives. That is why we are here.”
Carla took a deep breath. Suddenly everything made sense. Why had the Queen told her? Surely this was a weakness which humans would seek to exploit. Something else was wrong. The Queen was distant. There was no mind penetration this morning. Perhaps this was just another tactic?
“
Are you saying that you are taking our people to provide a cure for illness?”
“Not a cure. It is relief. There is no cure, but we can reduce the symptoms and prolong life.”
“There must be a way of doing this without mass slaughter. How many of your people are effected?”
“Most of us carry a gene which mutates over time, bringing about the full-blown illness.
“What about you?”
“A good question. The disease has just entered its final stage. I am strong still, but will need relief soon. Don’t worry; it will not be you. I will take my relief from those selected.”
“So, you are dying! How long do you have?”
“The onset of the final stage happened only very recently. As a Queen caste, I can hold off the debilitating stages of the disease for many months. I am still strong.”
“I have noticed some changes. You have not entered my mind, this morning.”
“By choice—both to save energy and out of respect…I told you before: you are my friend. I value our conversations and your company.”
“So, there is still a chance for you, Surely it must be worth asking our scientists to help?”
“No. Our researchers and scientists spent the last millennia searching for a cure. We have sought out the technologies and capabilities of races far in advance of your own. Yet still there is nothing.”
“So, what will happen to the Kryl? Will you eventually die out?”
“No, never. The numbers of Kryl progressing to the advanced stages is maintained to allow us to perpetuate our species.”
“Which includes the invasion and wiping out of other races, including our own. Eventually our resources will deplete. What happens then? I guess you move on?”
“No. We can sustain ourselves and provide relief from you indefinitely. We only move on if the inhabitant’s revolt. If there is no agreement between us, then we have to move on.”
“Leaving what? It follows that you would destroy that race before you moved on.”
The Queen was angry now.”No! If we are attacked, we will respond. We will take what we need and move on. There are many planets whose incumbent population remains intact. Do not judge us Carla. We live as we do. We have no choice.”
“Surely you don’t expect us to feel sorry for you. We have no choice to allow you to take our people or face the wrath of your armies. We lose either way.”
“You have to understand why we do what we do.”
“It might have been better to have explained why you invaded us in the first place. I am not suggesting we would have been sympathetic, but maybe we would have understood better and despite what you say, human nature would have compelled us to help you find a cure…You know humans should not be underestimated.”
“Oh, I am well aware of that, Carla. We have lost a greater number of Kryl to you—more than any of our battles previously and yet technologically you are insignificant.”
Carla was exasperated, but knew this was a critically important conversation. She had to continue.
“Why now? Why did you decide to tell us now?”
“Because you are an intelligent species. We wish to perpetuate our relationship and to achieve this, we need your help. In time, when we reduce the number of humans we require; it will become palatable. An enduring and workable symbiotic relationship…and, because you and I have developed our relationship to a point where I can trust you. I know you will treat the content of this discussion sympathetically when you speak to your superiors.”
“You want me to pass the content of this conversation on…in its entirety?”
“Yes.”
“Very well…I will do so. I am not sure whether anything will come from it but I will pass it on.”
“Thank you, Carla. You are a good friend. I hope you will remain by my side over the next few weeks and months. It will provide me with comfort as I slip away into nothingness.”
“Of course, Trieste. I am and will always be here for you.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
The Collected
So, all along the Kryl were killing humans to perpetuate their own existence. A bizarre situation. It was almost impossible to believe the mighty Kryl were dying. This just added to the argument that the Antirillium radiation would kill them once and for all. It would accelerate the growth of the tumors, already growing within their bodies.
President Roslyn spent the last two nights at his villa in Lugano. He wasn’t hiding, but he did need time to think and a weekend away from the Kryl, the media, his political opponents and his staff was exactly what he needed. Forty-eight hours prior to leaving, he instigated the extension to his emergency powers. He knew in ten days, he could extend no more and all hell would break loose.
It had been two and a half weeks since the HSL Collection date and true to their word, the Kryl were utterly ruthless. One hundred and fifty million persons were collected, including over twenty-two thousand family members where the actual person selected from the HSL list had absconded. Over fifteen hundred were under eighteen years of age. Fortunately, all but a very small number of the alternative family members were returned together with a third of the total collected, leaving one hundred million humans to be distributed amongst the Kryl.
The mass rioting started as soon as the Kryl began “collecting” those from the list. Once again, the Kryl intervened and executed the entire crowd from three large protests in Rome, Tehran, and Adelaide. Over eighteen hundred protesters lives were extinguished. There was some fighting back too as citizens began to organize themselves into resistance groups. They had targeted several Kryl cruisers and the main Governor offices unsuccessfully. All resistance was met with massive force and their effect was short-lived. Now, the world was comparatively quiet again.
The huge double doors to Roslyn’s presidential office remained firmly shut as his government disintegrated around him. All but two of his ministers of state remained in office as a plethora of resignation letters landed on his desk. Roslyn had not sought to replace anyone. In essence his government was dead and all that remained was its figurehead, a broken man, who knew his own future was already determined.
A new government were already formed. It had no power as yet. Mikoslavic was ready to move into the presidential suite, just as soon as the emergency power period expired and a motion of confidence in the incumbent president was passed.
They could have it all, thought Roslyn. I have tried my best. Let’s see how they get on. For ten years he had protected his people and led them to greater and greater economic prosperity and all would now be forgotten. His legacy the president who oversaw the destruction of government and the execution of hundreds of millions of his fellow citizens. Then, it would all come right for the new government. Alpha’s contingency fleet would free them all from the Kryl and President Rohan Mikoslavic would reap the rewards of power, so cruelly taken from Thomas Roslyn.
Roslyn knew he had to return to the presidential palace this afternoon and that he needed to face his critics and his people head on. It was time for an impassioned speech. A last ditch attempt to persuade his people and more importantly the elected members of the senate that he should remain in office for the duration of his term.
He would go down fighting. He would return to his office of state and reappoint new ministers. He would deal with all the important matters face on and he would make people believe in him again. He was a victim of circumstance and it was up to him, one last time to make a stand.
Chapter Forty
Antirillium Radiation
The Halo 7 arrived at the Rymanian Abyss, three days ahead of schedule and the ships Executive officer ordered the scanning to commence immediately. The support fleet, which included eight cruisers, two frigates and twenty-two assorted ancillary vessels were not due to arrive for at least three weeks and his CO
intended to make the most of the intervening period.
The new XO, Bernhard Huber was a huge burly man, who had a crisp Germanic accent and walked with a limp. He was an experienced space mariner and had a penchant for all things English. A fascination originating from his childhood when his father, himself a former battle ship commander, transferred to London to manage the Stellar Drive development center. Although, his father had retired from this position, he was nonetheless well known to Jake Carter’s family. Jake’s father having served under him and then subsequently replaced him when he retired.
Jake Carter just arrived on shift and had taken the vacant comms position.
“Ah, Mister Carter. We have arrived and I have ordered scans to commence. Can you take the con? I wish to update the CO. Let me know if and when we pick up the first traces of Antirillium.”
“Will do, sir.”
Jake had only met the XO once, before he had assumed the first officer position; at a party held by his parents when Huber’s father had retired. Huber was highly decorated, but spent much of his time as a staff officer at Alpha’s operational headquarters.
Now after nearly a month serving as XO, in truth, he showed little guile in operational matters and lacked confidence in all but the simplest command tasks. It was clear the CO was concerned that the Halo 7 was exposed because of Commander Huber’s inadequacies, but there was little that Commander Jacques could do about it.
Not that Jake felt confident enough to step up. He was the Bridge Commander and, in terms of experience—particularly with the Kryl, he did fill the gap. Fortunately this mission was not likely to involve any significant battle conditions and Jacques experience meant the XO’s perceived failings would not jeopardize either the ship or the mission.
Jake moved himself to the command chair and made himself comfortable. As Bridge Commander, he spent much of his time in effective operational command. When the executive officers were anywhere but the bridge, normal day to day decisions were made by him. Despite his yearning to take to the stars in a Sabre; this was really what he joined up for. How long would it be before he took his own command?
