Resolute Uprising (The War for Terra)

by James Prosser

  “Doctor Lamont,” Banu Rao said, raising his hand to the other man. “I trust the installation is going well.”

  “This…This isn’t installation, Banu,” replied Lamont, straightening the spectacles that perched on his long nose. “This is just…redecoration. The installation won’t even start until we can get all of this garbage out of the way.”

  Lamont swept his arm across the floor. The tanks were nearly two stories tall and resembled brushed metal. They had massive pipes extending from dozens of points on the surface. The cranes steadied the massive objects as anti-gravity lifters levitated the tanks several millimeters above the deck. Other than the workers and equipment, the area was spotless. Rao couldn’t tell if Lamont was referring to the tanks or the crew as garbage.

  “Well then I hope the crew can get the place arranged to your liking.” Rao replied. “Do you have an update on the assembly plans for the weapon?”

  “I can’t get those numbers until I see the status of the M-space core.” Lamont said. “We need to get that old generator up to at least eighty-two percent if we hope to accelerate an object past one-half light speed.”

  “Doctor Lamont,” Banu said, stepping closer to the taller man. “Please watch what you reveal among the repair crews. They are not all our people. I don’t want too much interest in our little experiment before it is ready to be revealed.”

  “Sorry, Banu,” replied the doctor. “I just needed to ask for the return of my own assistants. I need the Karisiens to speed things up. They have the skills and understanding to…”

  “Doctor Lamont!” Rao said, raising his voice. “We have had this conversation before. The Karisiens are working for the Elves. The Elves work for Chang and Chang works for me. If you cannot do the work without the help of the aliens, then I might have to look for others who can. Do I make myself clear?”

  “There aren’t any others, Minister Rao.” Lamont replied with an uncharacteristic show of courage. “I mean…My team and I are the only ones who understand all of this. You can’t get anyone else. We can’t complete the calculations without the frogs. It’s your choice if you want to find someone else to work on this, but if you bring anyone else in, all you will get is an oversized pop-gun. Now I need the help of our Karisiens. I trust them and will take responsibility for them. Now get me those aliens or…or… Well, just get them to me.”

  The two men looked at each other for a long moment. Rao had been outfoxed by the scientist. He had expected the man to back down again. Instead, the scientist had used Rao’s need to exact revenge on the enemy to his own advantage. He mentally noted the man’s defiance and decided that he wasn’t as trustworthy as he had originally thought.

  Rao looked back to the projection screen. The Vadne fleet was drifting past the illusory window like a threat. Rao wanted to be free of the aliens. As far as he was concerned, the human race would not be truly grateful for their home planet unless they did the work to reclaim it themselves. Getting involved with alien races was what got the human race ejected from Terra.

  “Fine,” Rao said. “I will get your friends over here, but you need to keep a tight hold on them. I want you to monitor all transmissions they send. If I find any evidence that they are betraying us, I will personally place them in an airlock and open the hatch.”

  “Thank you, Minister Rao,” said Lamont, resuming his meeker tone. “I’ll keep an eye on them, don’t worry.”

  “I am not worried, Doctor.” Rao replied, walking away from both the captain and the doctor. “I expect they will be comforted when I put you in the airlock with them.”

  Savoring the expressions he knew were on the men’s faces, Rao left the enormous room and entered a cool outer corridor. The noise of the construction had been nearly overwhelming at times and the relative quiet of the hallway was comforting. One of Rao’s aides was standing outside the door when Banu exited. He approached the minister with a data pad in hand.

  “Minister Rao,” the aide said. “We just received a report from the station. The fleet that went out a few hours ago has returned.”

  Rao took the pad and glanced over the information. Most of it was a report of an encounter with the Ch’Tauk near the Kaya colony. Chang had left a small presence to monitor the system but had taken a Ch’Tauk destroyer analog in the battle. Near the end of the report was a resolution memo of a distress call. Rao was astonished that the ship that had summoned the fleet was Resolute. It seemed that the ship had gone rogue and been harassing Ch’Tauk ships all over the galaxy.

  “This is interesting, but it doesn’t affect our plans.”

  “Sir,” the aide replied, tapping a key on the pad to bring up a follow up report. “I think you are interested in this part.”

  The report that Rao scrolled through was about an incursion and the taking of the destroyer. The pig-like guard, Wellick, had downloaded data from the Ch’Tauk memory core before the battle. The data download had been incomplete, but it had enabled the decryption device to learn more about the ship. After taking the ship, the pilot known as Jackal had used the device to decode the navigational charts.

  “They have found it.” Rao whispered to himself. “They have found the Ch’Tauk home world!”

  “Yes, sir.” The aide replied. “I thought you’d want to know.”

  Rao’s mind whirled with the possibilities now opened up to him. With the coordinates now decoded, Rao’s plan could be engaged. He would fly the Victory down the throats of the enemy and wipe them out forever. The sun will rise on Terra’s children again and Rao would be the messiah that would bring about their liberation.

  28

  Ch’Tauk Home World

  Descending the central stairs leading to the main audience hall, the Consort surveyed the assembled Primero. The closest thing he knew to a friend was Ki’Bualan, who had taken his place as the First among Equals among the military commanders. The assembly was garbed in the ceremonial sashes of Authority that he had always preferred. The human infection that had been Heyerdahl was gone. It had been replaced with a restored sense of tradition and respect for the Empress Ch’Tauk and the man who had once been called Ki’Bara.

  “Welcome, Primero, to the Summer Palace. The Consort said. “In the presence of her eternal glory the Empress Ch’Tauk, all is well.”

  The Primero below raised their eyes to him and saluted. In the expanded range of vision provided by the four eyes, the Consort could see the heat signatures of each commander. Lies were uncommon among his people due to the changes in pulse and body chemistry that produced strange heat patterns. The only thing he saw was contentment and the fulfilled sensation of conquest amongst his men. Almost all of them.

  The Consort continued down the stairs to meet with Ki’Bualan. The old soldier had replaced him as leader of the Nine Regions and head of the fleet. His pattern and scent suggested he was troubled and uneasy. The Consort came to his friend’s side and placed a clawed hand against his shoulder. The Primero expelled a calming scent, trying to relax his mind and present a brave face for the Consort.

  “My friend,” the Consort said. “I sense that you are not enjoying the summer palace and its treats as much as the rest of the Primero.”

  “Ki’Bara,” Ki’Bualan replied, utilizing the Consort’s former name. “The younger Primero is just happy to be this close to her Eminence. The others are happy to be alive after your purge of Ki’Bontri’s followers.”

  “And you?” asked the Consort.

  “I am too old to care one way or the other.” The man responded. I must speak to you, though. There are reports coming in from the acquired Terran holdings of insurgent attacks. There are uprisings on the colonies.”

  “I am sure that the Tercero assigned to these places can suppress any problems.” The Consort replied. “The humans are scattered to the galaxy. We needn’t worry about a few ships attacking our fleet. We hold their planet. The humans won’t try to take their colonies while we control Terra.”

  “That is what I am conc
erned about, my friend.” Ki’Bualan said. “I have been analyzing the pattern of attack and I think I see…”

  “You are seeing enemies where only a few ships exist.” The consort replied. “We are the mighty Ch’Tauk Empire! We have nothing to fear from any human.”

  “My lord Consort,” Ki’Bualan replied, reaching out to take the other man’s hand. “Please, just look at the flimsy I have brought you. You were the best student I ever trained. If you don’t see the danger, I will drop the subject and never bother you with it again. Please, Ki’Bara, I need your eyes.”

  The Consort looked into his friends eyes as the other man pleaded with him. Ki’Bualan was not prone to emotional outbursts. The Consort had allowed the other man to continue to call him by his former name out of fondness for the old man. He wondered if the elderly soldier’s mind was beginning to fail. His race was short lived and the warrior class even shorter. Ki’Bualan was already past the average age for a Primero and was now entering a time when he would normally have been sent to the wilds to die.

  “I will look at your data, old friend,” the Consort said. “If for no other reason than to calm your nerves.”

  “I will send for the Secundo,” Ki’Bualan said, slumping his shoulders and relaxing for the first time.

  “First, though,” the Consort said. “Have a drink. It is a time for celebration, my old friend. We have brought in beast from the northern regions and I have personally distilled spirits from my own fields. The Empress will be making her entrance in a few moments. Enjoy the glory of her presence.”

  “I will enjoy it when she is here, Ki’Bara,” Ki’Bualan said with a scent of regret. “Until then, I will worry and act likes the commander of your fleet.”

  The Consort nodded his head as his friend strode away towards one of the attendants at the door. Ki’Bualan had been a good Primero for many years but the Consort now began to think he had outlived his usefulness. He would begin reviewing the files to see which Primero would be the best choice to take over. In the meantime, he had more pressing matters to attend to.

  A tap on the stone floor from a long staff signaled the arrival of the Camerlingo. The time the Consort had spent with the Empress had been marred only by the omnipresent advisor. The Consort hated politicians with a passion and the Camerlingo was the highest ranking member of that caste. He had been instrumental, though, in Ki’Bara’s rise to his current position of power and that made him an ally. The man rapped his staff again on the floor, gathering the attention of the assembly.

  “My Lord Primero,” the Camerlingo started. “You are about to enter the presence of the Empress Ch’Tauk, ruler of the Empire and all surrounding regions and High Protector of the bloodline of Ch’Tauk. Kneel in honor of the holder of all we call home.”

  The assembly knelt to the stone. No eyes but the Consort looked up to witness the arrival of the Ch’Tauk Empress. The female Ch’Tauk sat on a floating palanquin surrounded by thick blankets and cushions. The Consort had seen the whorls and lines of her armored skin close and found her to be the loveliest thing he had ever seen. Her long, thin neck carried her crested skull in a regal manner. The time he had spent with her had been the greatest event in his existence.

  “You may rise in the presence of Her Majesty.” The Camerlingo announced and the assembly rose as one. “The Empress, may Her reign be as eternal as the stars, has descended to inform you of most glorious news.”

  The assembly rose as one and faced the balcony where the Camerlingo was stepping aside. The Empress Ch’Tauk stepped on long, thin legs, to the stone floor of the balcony. She held her strong head up, not lowering her gaze to the Primero below, but addressing them with her presence alone.

  “Primero of the Imperial Fleet and leaders of the Warrior Caste of Ch’Tauk,” the Empress began. “We come before you to announce the impending arrival of our first lord and heir. We are with child.”

  There was a resounding clicking and hiss indicating the joy of the assembly. Each Primero tried to outdo the nearest with the clatter of mandibles clattering and the sound of spitting breath. The Empress stood above it all, not meeting any single gaze. Several of the Primero came to the side of the Consort, clearly trying to curry favor with the man. The Consort simply stood quietly, not returning any of the comments directed towards his ears. The scent of happiness and excitement was almost too much for the Consort to take.

  “We will be preparing the birthing palace to receive the new Ch’Tauk prince. In the meantime,” the Empress continued. “We will leave the tasks of directing the Empire to the Camerlingo and the Consort. We look forward to the arrival of the heir and the celebrations that will come with it. We take our leave with much happiness and expectations for the future.”

  Amid the clicks and hisses, the Empress returned to the Palanquin and sat back into the cushions. She waved her four-fingered hand and the chair removed itself beyond the lip of the balcony and out of view. The celebrations continued until the Camerlingo announced the Empress’ departure. A swarm of well-wishers clung to the Consort’s side.

  It took the Consort too long to return the compliments and separated himself from the hiring. The assembly moved off and returned to the buffet set in the corner. Ki’Bualan pushed himself from the crowd and came to stand near his old friend.

  “I suppose I should start calling you the Father soon.” Ki’Bualan said. “I still haven’t gotten used to you not being Ki’Bara.”

  “I will always be the centurion that you raised when you were a Quartero, my friend.” The Consort replied. “To be honest, I prefer Primero as a title rather than the Consort as a name. Either way, I think you may be right. The life I used to lead is moving further away from the life I have now.”

  “Perhaps I could still raise the spirit of the Primero,” Ki’Bualan said. “I told you I had some tactical read outs I wanted you to look at.”

  The older man held out two flimsies to the Consort. The younger man took the data devices and held them up. He scrolled through the first without pausing. When he took the second, he stopped the playback with a fingertip and paused on the image of a ship in battle. He turned all for eyes back to his old friend for a moment before resuming the image.

  “Have you confirmed this ship as being the one at the Caretaker planet?” The consort asked.

  “The ship matches our recognition file to a factor of ninety-nine point eight.” Ki’Bualan replied, looking into his friend’s eyes. “The variance is understandable given the damage that it seems to have taken.”

  “And the attacks on the Terran colony worlds,” the younger man asked. “What is the analysis of their strategy?”

  “Our tacticians have deduced that they are planning to retake the colony worlds,” Ki’Bualan replied. “Earth is lost to them but they are using up their resources to maintain their defenses. They will need to retake the colonies just to survive.”

  “You believe that these attacks are just testing our defenses?” The Consort said, more as a statement than a question. “How many ships have they used in these raids?”

  “We have identified only this one and a few more.” The older man said. “At most, we think the fleet they used at the Caretaker planet has taken enough damage that they cannot rebuild. Without shipyards, they are weak and unable to mount a large-scale attack.”

  “These humans can be troublesome, my friend,” the Consort said. “I believe you should redeploy the fleet in defense of the colony worlds and increase patrols along the former Confederate allied worlds. If they are planning something, they will need help.”

  “There is one more thing, Consort,” Ki’Bualan replied. “We have lost contact with the patrol fleet on the planet they called Kaya. The ground stations are reporting sporadic attacks from an orbital ship, but no landings yet.”

  “You should have told me this first, Ki’Bualan.” The Consort said with anger. “It seems that the humans are being more than troublesome. They have begun an insurgent battle with our forces. I once w
arned that even a single remaining Terran ship could undermine our entire mission. It seems that I was right after all. Ki’Bontri was a fool for not hunting down that ship when we first encountered it.”

  I understand, my friend. I wanted to bring this report to you in person instead of sending it over an open communications channel. “ Ki’Bualan said. “I know you understand these humans better than most of our kind. You created the original strategy to defeat them and take their Confederacy from them before they attacked our worlds. I hoped you would have further knowledge to help the fleet succeed in putting down the uprising.”

  “Primero,” the Consort replied, turning away to look up at the balcony again. “You are the First now. I have only the predator’s view of these people. The most I can tell you is that these creatures will keep bothering you until you either give up or destroy them utterly.”

  “And the ship?” Ki’Bualan asked. “Should we put out a call for the capture of this vessel?”

  “No, my friend.” The man once known as Ki’Bara said. “If this vessel is spotted, by any ship bigger than a scout vessel or transport, it is to be engaged and destroyed. The commander of that ship rallied his own forces to defeat Ki’Bontri despite overwhelming odds. He is dangerous to us and to our future as a symbol. Destroying that ship will demoralize these renegade survivors and make them easy for us to track and destroy.”

  “I understand, my lord.” Ki’Bualan said, nodding his head. “We will begin the hunt immediately.”

  “I may have some leverage for you if that ship refuses to die on schedule.” The Consort replied. “I have been keeping some security in case I ever needed to face that human again. I will recall that leverage so we can use it to our advantage.”

  “Leverage, Ki’Bara?” asked the Primero.

  “Humans do not value family as we do, my friend.” The consort explained. “The security I hold is dear to that commander. During the battle with Ki’Bontri, I decoded the transmissions of that ship. I believe I hold the one thing that captain wants more than his own life.”