by Chris Burton
“As I predicted we meet again. It has been a long journey for both of us and for me as you can see it is my last one.”
Jake’s throat tightened. He was not sure what to say and then he realized his mind was being entered by more than one Kryl.
“You are here to take our surrender. That was always your destiny; but it did not become clear to me until very recently. As you can see others are here; my Kronan, your chosen partner Carla Stevenson, my Chancellor and Malore. Malore will become the new Queen on my death. What do you have to say in response Lieutenant Commander?”
“I am saddened by your loss. You say you have asked me here to accept your terms for surrender. What are they?”
The Queen laughed weakly.”That we have been defeated and should leave Earth to seek out a new home a long way from here.”
“You will not be allowed to take all of your ships.” Jake grew more confident, but suddenly felt a stabbing pain as he recognized the deeper penetration into his mind came from Safrec.
Safrec stepped forward.”Who are you to dictate to my Queen what we should take with us? I accept we must leave your insignificant planet. It is time to move on; but you are in no position to impose terms of that type. My armada still outnumbers yours and I could still crush you in a moment. You can no longer threaten us with radiation.”
“You don’t have the need for all yours ships Safrec. Leave them here and we will dismantle them for you. It serves no purpose you taking vessels which you cannot man.”
“I thought so. You have no real conviction. You are not in a position to insist upon anything; because you know that you have not really won. We are just moving on. You are weak, Jake Carter. You have destroyed the lives of two of our former Kronan’s, but you will not take any more.”
Jake looked at Carla in the hope she would offer support, but she remained silent.
“Your woman is silent, because I have just opened her mind to yours. She just found out that you have lain with another…Maria…in your time apart. She is angry, but feels guilty as she has done the same to you. I believe his name was Harrington.”
“Enough of this!” The Queen was too weak now to comment further. It was Malore who had intervened.”We are here to surrender and broker a peace. Safrec you will stand down and we will take only those of our vessels which we can populate with crew. Do you accept our surrender?”
Jake was still angry about Safrec’s revelations about Carla…but he was no better. Has our relationship come to an end? He tried to push the thoughts from his mind. He needed to concentrate on matters at hand.
“Is it unconditional?”
“Yes, based on the terms we have already relayed.”
“Then on behalf of Alpha I accept your surrender. You will stand down your arms and we will start to broker a lasting peace between us. Carla, are you ready to take on that responsibility?”
He could not believe he was talking to his sweetheart in such a cold-hearted fashion. There must have been a good reason…was there?
“Yes, Lieutenant Commander Carter.” Her response was short and without expression. She was either being officious or she was angry with him too…she had every right to be.
“Good…then the process will start.” It was Trieste. “Before then, Carla, Jake, please step forward.”
Jake shrugged his shoulders uncertain how to respond but as Carla drew close to the Queen he moved closer too. He was standing next to his beloved and suddenly he felt an over arching urge to draw her close.
“Jake. Carla was forced to lie with Major Harrington against her will. Carla, Jake was coerced into lying with another. War and distance can do dreadful things to us all. I sense your love for each other remains deep and confident. Do not allow these minor distractions to ruin what you have. Jake, you should know that Carla has become my friend and it is because of her that today has happened. Carla. Jake is human and very much like a Kryl, he has moments of weakness, which could have destroyed your relationship. But he forced himself back from that when he knew he had done wrong. There is conviction in his mind which says it will never happen again.”
The Kryl Queen turned again to Jake. She was weakening by the moment. The efforts of these last words taking every ounce of her energy. “Jake…I forgive you for the death of Navalion and for Morvalt. Take Carla and be with her again and forever and ever.”
The last words lingered as her shallow breathe gave way to nothingness. The Kryl Queen was dead.
Epilogue
On Earth, things slowly returned to normal. President Roslyn assumed full control of his government and received confirmation of an extension to his period of office to allow all issues to be, addressed, including the funding of and rebuilding of Alpha’s beleaguered fleet. After a short battle of wills, Admiral Koenig had received the required majority on the Admiralty Bench and was confirmed once again as CIC.
Acting CO, Commander Huber and his first officer Jake Carter lead the battle ravaged Halo 7 to Alpha Two under her own head of steam, and extensive repairs began. Carla Stevenson assumed the permanent role of CO of the Diplomatic division of the Galactic Senate and had brokered an enduring deal with the Kryl who were in deep space in search for a new home.
On the Queen’s ship, Queen Malore and her Kronan reignited their relationship. Safrec was the Queen’s chosen one.
He finally had what he wanted. He and Malore would lead the Kryl to their new planet; where they would rebuild their society and start to rekindle their numbers. Then, he would return to Earth and finish the job he should have done so long ago. He would kill Jake Carter.
About the Author:
Chris Burton is a financial business to business advisor and part time writer, who lives on the edge of the South Downs National Park in rural Hampshire, England, with his wife, three young children, two dogs and a cat.
Alpha One—The Kryl Queen is the third novel in the Alpha One series and the final book in the first trilogy. Alpha One—The Jump Pilot was published by Eternal Press in Dec 2010, and Alpha One —The Kronan in May 2012. Both are available in print and e-format. The series will eventually contain seven books, two trilogies, and a one off final book. The fourth book in the series is well underway.
Chris says, “I have been inspired to write Science Fiction from childhood. It was always simply a case of starting and now that I have started, there is a lot more to come. I hope you enjoy the Alpha One Series of books!”
More information is available on www.chrisburton2212.weebly.com and on twitter @chrisburton99.
More information is available on
http://www.chrisburton2212.weebly.com
http://alphaonethejumppilot.blogspot.com
and on
twitter @chrisburton99
Also from Eternal Press:
Alpha One: The Kronan
by Chris Burton
eBook ISBN: 9781615726745
Print ISBN: 9781615726752
Science Fiction Adventure
Plus-Novel of 99,547 words
The Kryl are back... but this time they intend to feed!
Jake Carter and Jonathan Hoskins return in the sequel to Alpha One--The Jump Pilot.
The wormhole has reopened and the Kryl have returned bringing with them a vast armada under the command of the new Kronan-–Morvalt. The Kryl Queen and Morvalt’s sole intent is to defeat Alpha and take Planet Earth and its people as their new food source.
Jake graduates and assumes his first post aboard an Alpha Battle Cruiser; whilst his girlfriend Carla Stevenson joins the Senate in a diplomatic post and his friend Steve Costello scrapes through gradation and assumes a Jump Ship post on the front line. Morvalt takes control of Jakes mind and forces him to join the Queen aboard the Queens ship, whilst his fleet continue their relentless advance to Earth.
Alph
a’s defenses are stretched to the full as the battle rages and Jake Carter, Jonathan Hoskins Carla Stevenson and Steve Costello become embroiled in a battle to save the Earth.
Also from Eternal Press:
Europa:
Rise of the Carnelians
Second Edition
by Jason Gehlert
eBook ISBN: 9781629290096
Print ISBN: 9781629290102
Science Fiction Adventure
Novel of 71,657 words
Europa Series: Book 1
Some things are left better frozen.
On the heels of Doctor Nolan Drake’s warning that a long active super volcano underneath Yellowstone National Park is on the verge of eruption, the President of the United States orchestrates a mission to Europa, where colonization is already underway. As Earth’s inevitable demise draws near, Adrian Blakely, a shady and mysterious billionaire offers his services and his fleet of ships to lead a top-notch team to Europa where they will encounter a long dormant alien species buried underneath the moon’s icy surface. Mankind will have to make one final stand against a new enemy in order to not only save each other, but the entire galaxy.
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