by Chris Burton
“Enough. Safrec, lay down your sword. I am still your Queen I am ordering you.”
The Kronan grunted and begrudgingly withdrew his sword to his side. He stepped back once but still stood between Sorgan and the Queen.
“You have failed to protect your Queen, Sorgan. When all else failed, The Malchians, unaffected by the radiation have also failed.”
“The failure is yours Safrec. You had an opportunity to destroy the whole Alpha fleet but neglected to notice when the radiation ships splintered off. That will live with you forever Safrec.”
“How dare you blame me for your failures? The Malchians are supposed to protect the Queen. Look at her now. She is dying and you are responsible.”
Sorgan lunged forward and grabbed Safrec by the throat, knocking Carla to the floor. The Queen was powerless to do anything. She tried to push herself up from the bed she had been moved to, but she was too weak.
The two Kryl leaders exchanged blows, the physical taking over the mind as both resorted to delivering head and body blows to their opponent. Now the psychological battle took over as each tried to enter the others mind. Safrec knew once again how powerful Sorgan was and he realized he could not beat him this way. As he lunged forward again, with his fists, he pulled the sword again from its scabbard and delivered the death blow. He plunged the sword through the Malchians abdomen and out through the small of his back. Sorgan gasped. Blood was already trickling from the corner of his mouth. He stood back and smiled and then he pulled the sword back through his body and lifted it upwards and then downwards.
“You have not won this battle, Safrec.” His strained vocal chords choked with blood as he spoke, “My Trieste is dying and I shall lay by her side forever and ever. She will always be mine.”
Sorgan forced his aching body forward to the Queen’s side and gazed into her eyes. “My beloved…”
His voice was faltering now as he grew weaker and weaker. “I will love you and be with you forever.”
Trieste gazed into her chosen ones eyes. She knew these were his last moments. She kissed his hand and watched in horror as Sorgan, the great Malchian Commander slipped to the floor and died.
There was silence in the Queen’s sanctuary as realization set in. Carla sat up, but could not stand. She was still stunned by the force of the blow from the Kronan. The Queen spoke first.
“Safrec…you have brought Sorgan and I closer together, rather than split us apart. Soon we will be together again.”
She looked at Carla and then back at Safrec. “Help Carla to her feet. You will need her to help broker a new relationship between our people, once I am gone. Go to your chosen mistress and bring her to me. I can sense she is unaffected by the radiation. We have much to discuss.” The Queen fell back into her pillow exhausted. She would die soon and then she would be with her chosen one forever.
Chapter Seventy-One
End Games
The battles above Earth and on the ground were over, apart from a few minor skirmishes. It had been nearly an hour since the radiation took its full effect and Alpha were beginning to establish some control. Jonathan Hoskins had already received calls from Admiral Koenig, who congratulated him and passed on the thanks and praise from President Roslyn.
He was joined in his state room by Admiral Shenke.
“A job well done Jonathan. Our initial estimates suggest ninety-seven percent of the Kryl are now dead. Devastating really.”
“Yes…although you can never be satisfied with such huge loss of life, even if it is our enemies. Koenig is establishing control on the ground. The Malchians and any remaining hierarchal Kryl are being gathered together in compounds. We will need to move fast to establish some ground rules and obtain an official cessation of the battle status.”
“Yes. As the task force commander, I am happy for you to take the Kryl surrender.”
“Thanks, Tom. It’s going to take a long time to get back to anything approaching normality…and then we must rebuild. We have lost a huge number of personnel and ships. Most of what we have left is in tatters. Even the Accura is on her last legs.”
* * * *
Jake Carter spent most of the last hour assessing the damage to the ship. He was still in command by proxy, with Huber, once again fading into the background. Jean-Luc Jacques was conscious, but far from recovered and the Halo 7 itself was in a mess.
The ships structural integrity was the major concern. The main frontal bulkheads were hastily repaired following the battle at Cygnus and then damaged again in this latest exchange. However, it was the main pivot bulkheads which ran amidships from fore to aft and port to starboard; in places the whole bulkhead had been fractured, which created the biggest problem. The result was a ship which was being held together in part, by the minor bulkheads and skin, but fundamentally by the ships shields. If one of the main bulkheads snapped, the ship could collapse in on itself. Jake already decided a return to Earth was not practical; the bulkheads would not stand re-entry.
The most obvious port of call would be Alpha Two, on Earth’s lunar moon; but that remained some distance away; given the ships current condition. The remains of Alpha’s disheveled fleet now stood in front of the Queen’s ship; still surrounded by hundreds of silent Kryl vessels; the tomb’s for millions of dead Kryl. This for now was his best option, while his damage teams continued their repairs. At least they could give the structure some resilience to allow the trip to the moon to be undertaken, without the aid of salvage vessels. It was critical for the Halo 7’s future that she made it to the moon’s surface under her own steam. To fail would make her an instant salvage target and the Halo 7 was not ready for the scrap heap yet; at least not under his tenure. Jake gave the order for the Halo 7 to head out; a measured navigation between the silent Kryl cruisers and a birth alongside the Accura.
The journey was slow going. Every correctional course change, a cause for concern for Jake who took the pilot controls to manual. On two occasions, the fore deck plasma cannons were used to blast wreckage aside. A collision with even a small object could be catastrophic. But now the Accura was in sight. She lay one thousand meters short of the Queen’s ship, with no clear birth alongside her, Jake needed to take the Halo 7 past the flag ship and then bring her back along a tight corridor. There was no specific need to dock here, but it seemed somehow appropriate that the two main protagonists behind the success of the mission lay side-by-side, in front of their trophy, the Queen’s ship.
As Jake maneuvered past the Queen’s gargantuan vessel and began the turn to run back in, he felt a sudden pain in his head. It was a familiar pain…one that told him unequivocally that the time arrived when Jake Carter was to about join the Kryl Queen on her ship. Yet, the pain was weaker than he had experienced before. The arguments in his head were not persuasive, he had a choice as to respond or not. For now, Jake elected to ignore them, his priority was his ship. He continued the run towards the Accura.
“Hull integrity alert, deck thirteen thru sixteen port side.”
Jake checked the source code and confirmed his comms officer’s status alert. The main bulkhead was in imminent danger of snapping. The result would be a collapse of all deck areas within that quadrant of the ship. He lifted his hands off the thruster’s controls. He was still six thousand meters short of his target destination and even when he arrived, the bulkhead could still be lost. He looked around desperately for a solution. He saw the panic on the faces of his fellow bridge crew. Should he continue forward or concede defeat…and hand the Halo 7 over for salvage? She had done her job, perhaps now was the time to call it a day.
But no…Jake had found a way out of this. He pulled the joystick yaw control and the Halo 7 slowly turned in. She was heading for the Queen’s ship and towards the entrance to the huge hanger bay.
He would put her down on one of the launch pads. They were certainly big enough. He tried
to clear his mind. Was he doing the right things for the ship and its crew or was this just purely selfish.
His actions had not gone unnoticed. Commander Huber was on his way back to the bridge, when he saw what Jake was doing. He burst on to the bridge and shouted.
“Mister Carter. What the hell are you doing?”
Jake ignored him as he lined the ship up for entry into the bay. The access door was huge, but the Halo 7 was a large ship. He had to be accurate here.
“I am saving the ship. The atmospheric pressure within the hanger bay is less than that out here. It is the only way I can guarantee her holding together long enough for us to complete our repairs.”
The Halo 7 now entered the hanger bay. Jake headed right for the back. He set the controls to minimum thrust and set a course.
“We are inside the goddamn flagship of the Kryl armada, for Chris’s sake. This is not right. I am retaking command.”
Jake ignored him. He set up a comm.link with Admiral Hoskins.
“Sir, I am taking the Halo 7 inside the hanger bay of the Queen’s ship to set her down. Her structural integrity is compromised.”
“Are you sure you are doing the right thing Jake?”
“Yes, sir…also—if it is okay with you—I am presuming no one has yet taken the Kryl’s official surrender. I believe I am familiar with the protocols and that as a ranking commander of a class A ship of the line, I can assume this responsibility?”
Hoskins was quick to respond.”Yes, you may proceed with caution. You do what you have to do but keep your ship and your crew safe.”
The comm.link went dead. Jake turned to Commander Huber.” I am setting the Halo down on that platform at the end of the hanger bay; it should easily accommodate us. I will then leave the ship, together with a platoon of marines. I will head for the Queen’s sanctuary to seek audience and the Kryl’s official surrender. I will then hand command of the ship back to you. Do you concur?”
Huber looked stunned, but had long realized that Jake Carter did not always do things by the book. He was also beginning to recognize that something had compelled Jake to take the Halo inside the Queen ship. Call it fate or otherwise, this was meant to happen. “I concur Jake. Just get us down safely.”
Jake turned his attention back to the joystick controls. They were just one hundred meters from the landing deck. He moved forward slowly, meter by meter. They were above the bay. Jake brought the downward thrusters on-line and the ships huge support legs. Then he began to bring her down. The shock absorbers within the supporting struts would take the strain of the ships enormous weight until the correct weight distribution had been achieved. The Halo 7 put down and twenty seconds later, Jake removed his hands from the controls. The Halo had landed and she and her crew were safe.
“Major De Vere. Please assemble a platoon of troopers and join me at the main exit slip. We are going to take the ship.”
Chapter Seventy-Two
Surrender
Inside the Queen’s Sanctuary, Trieste lay resting. Carla had returned to her guest chambers and Safrec had stayed away. Only Sorgan remained with her. His body lay on a bed next to her own, covered in a ceremonial shroud. She would be with him soon.
Finally Safrec entered the sanctuary. He had brought his mistress with her. Trieste was not jealous of Safrec’s mistress. Her own relationship with Safrec was briefly physical, but to sustain her; but now any sustenance provided by lying with him again would be too little too late. The disease had won, fuelled by Alpha’s appetite for their own survival.
Safrec and his mistress reached the throne area. Safrec bowed his head.
“My Queen. I have done as you asked. This is Malore…she is my chosen one. I am compelled too offer her as the new Queen.”
“When I am dead,” she shouted, the sudden burst of energy sending shocks of pain, through her weakening body. “Safrec, you have failed me as a Kronan. In your tenure, our people have been devastated and you have taken the life of my chosen one and my own, Now you will listen to me as I instruct Malore in the ways of our order. You will be subservient to her.”
Safrec wanted to reply, but he acknowledged the part he had played in his people’s demise. It was better if he said nothing.
Trieste pulled herself up so that she could speak properly. “Bring me Carla Stevenson and my chancellor. Malore, please step forward.”
Malore came closer. She is attractive and young, so young; but a good choice, both as a mistress and as the new Queen. Trieste had much to say to her.
“My Kronan has chosen well…I know you will be a good Queen to my people.”
The Queen’s Chancellor entered through a door to the Sanctuary behind the Queen’s throne. He would never enter through the main entrance as she could never receive him. He must always stand behind her. He approached the Queen’s throne.”My Queen.”
“Stay with me until I die, Raslor. Malore is my chosen replacement. You will bow to our new Queen and take her oath, when the time comes.
“I will, my Queen.”
Carla now entered the sanctuary from the front. She stood beside the Chancellor and looked very uncertain.
“Good. We are all here…apart from one. Jake Carter will be with us soon. He is already aboard this ship.” She looked at Malore, Carla, her Chancellor and then the dead body of Sorgan. She did not allow her face to look at Safrec. It was important he understood her depth of feeling. She turned to Malore again.
“Malore. As I die and you become Queen, you first acts will be tarnished by the human’s victory.”
Safrec moved forward. “They have not defeated us…we still outnumber them. We have not surrendered…”
“Silence…I will allow you to have your say soon, Safrec. This is not your time.” Trieste turned back towards Malore.
“We have been defeated. Vast numbers of Kryl lay entombed within our ships and on the planet surface. We must pay homage to them and we must remember them, but they are gone and only a few hierarchal Kryl remain. You will inherit a smaller domain, composed mostly of Malchians, who will protect you from those who wish to dissuade you. Do you agree to swear an oath to comply with my final wishes?”
“I do my Queen.” Malore sounded confident and assured. Safrec had done his job well.
“We will shortly surrender to Alpha…and I will die very soon. You will broker a lasting and enduring peace with Alpha. Carla Stevenson is their negotiator and my friend. Treat her with respect; she has earned it by standing by my side as we slaughtered her people.”
Carla shifted uncomfortably from one foot to another. This was a momentous occasion for the Kryl and she was playing an active part.
Trieste continued.”You must take our people to find a new home. A long way from here. The humans will help us, they have promised. A permanent residence where you can rebuild our civilization; free from the encumbrances of our forbearers. Once I and those others who suffer die, the disease will be gone. It will have killed all those who would be killed. You must establish a new and growing hierarchy, with Safrec, your Kronan and your chosen one by your side. Do not allow him to step out of line.”
Trieste turned to Safrec. She appeared visibly weaker. The words of her dying moments were so important…She had to complete her task…
“Safrec, you must rebuild our armies and work closely with the Malchians. They will not trust you, because you have murdered their leader. You must regain their trust. Do you swear an oath to uphold my final wishes?”
Safrec sighed deeply. “I do, my Queen…but I cannot accept that we have been defeated. Our armada is still a force to be reckoned with. The humans have nothing left.”
“If you push them too far, they will crush you. We are now a small race, with no planet to call our home. You must accept our loss Safrec. The humans had every right to defend themselves against us and we und
erestimated them. They have defeated us.”
The dying Queen now turned to her Chancellor.”Malore is my chosen successor and, in keeping with our traditions, she must be crowned at the moment of my death. Do you agree to crown her and stand by her side until you die?”
“Yes, my Queen.”
“Jake Carter is here now. He will shortly receive my surrender and then I will die.”
* * * *
Jake took the platoon of marines directly through the main corridors of the Queen ship. All fifty marines walked behind him, with Major De Vere behind and slightly to his left. No one felt threatened, the ship was silent. Two Kryl drones joined them at the exit gates of the hanger bay and had turned a foot and were leading Jake to the Queen’s sanctuary. She knew he was here and he was being lead to his destiny.
Finally, they reached the main entrance to the Sanctuary, which was guarded as always by two Kryl drones; who immediately stepped inside and were replaced at their station by the two accompanying drones. Jake turned to the platoon commander.
“Major, leave forty-five of your men outside. The other five and yourself should accompany me inside, but you should all wait by the entrance. Only I must approach the Queen’s throne. I will call for you, if I need you.”
The Major acknowledged Jake’s command and selected five troopers to join them. They stepped inside the Sanctuary. Jake looked back to confirm his instructions and then began the long walk towards the center of the vaulted Sanctuary. He was here just as she had predicted. But what would happen? Only she knew the answer to that.
As he drew closer, he realized there were others in attendance. Closer still and he saw that one of them was Carla. His heart skipped a beat. It had been so long and finally he was with her again
“Jake Carter. Come closer.”
Jake was in the half-light that surrounded the throne in the center of the sanctuary. He saw the Kryl Queen was lying down. She was obviously dying. Carla stood to one side of her. His sweetheart looked radiant and confident. She obviously did not feel threatened by her surroundings. As he drew into the brightly lit semi-circle that surrounded the throne, he saw Safrec, The Kronan. What would happen now was anyone’s guess.
