Annals of the Keepers: War 267 (Book 1 in the Gashnee Saga)

by Hile, Christiaan

A quick double beep acknowledged his command. “Sonic wash off. Commencing full heat dry.”

  The heated air whooshed over Kason’s body, drying him from the gel wash that removed the grime of combat.

  He arched his back, leaving the surface of the shower wall. Kason stepped out into his room and approached a bench to sit on.

  He reached for a Mlaxtin-Protein bar. He took a bite, though his mind was elsewhere-with Ramek-- and not on food.

  Kason winced again with another bite. He tossed what was left of the remaining bar on the table next to him.

  How could this have happened to Ramek?

  Unless there was a Kryth twice his size with twice the prowess, they wouldn’t stand a chance against him, or any Reaver for that matter.

  Kason sat, deep in thought, wondering about the events which brought Ramek down. He knew his suit’s readings would hold the answers and they would soon have them, with the help of Doctor Solome.

  Kason just couldn’t get over all the mistakes made on the mission.

  A double beep came from the door to his room. “Keeper Alon Renske awaits your presence, Captain,” the computer chimed.

  Kason was angry with himself for Ramek and letting the Cuukzen escape. “Why, damn it!” he said through clenched teeth.

  The computer beeped. “Please repeat last command.”

  “Nothing,”

  Then, on the heels of Kason speaking his thoughts aloud, the computer toned again.

  “Please repeat last comm . . .”

  Kason cut the computer off. “System, stop. Tell Keeper Renske I will be with him in a moment.”

  The computer beeped twice, acknowledging his command.

  Kason turned and approached the dressing area to don himself in his Reaver officer uniform. He would have many more opportunities to think about what happened aboard Dalyth outpost later.

  The doors to Kason’s room parted, he exited and stepped out into the corridor.

  He spotted his good friend and mentor, Keeper Alon Renske, leaning back against the bulkhead, no doubt waiting for him.

  Kason approached his older, gray-haired friend.

  The two men embraced. Kason spoke first. “It’s good to see you again, my friend.”

  With a warm smile, his hands resting on the sides of Kason’s shoulders, the Keeper replied, “Indeed. It’s always good to see you, Kason.”

  The Keeper paused, glancing over Kason’s officer’s uniform.

  The all-black uniform fit Kason’s frame well, the Keeper thought. The jacket was tapered to the waist from the broad shoulders. The button-less collar held tight to Kason’s neck. Silver stitching ringed the top of the collar ending in a “V” cut in the front. Each side had a small silver emblem, one of the rank and one of the Reaver regiment’s crest. The black pants tapered and tucked into black combat deck boots. The only color, other than the silver-lined coiler and the small emblems, was the red regimental Reaver sash worn on the waist band.

  “I like the new uniforms. For someone who got out of combat a few hours ago, you look much better than I do, and I only write for a living,” Alon said.

  Kason smiled back at his friend. “But don’t I always look good?”

  “And modest.”

  “You’re looking good, yourself, Keeper. Not wearing the long ‘bath’ robes anymore?” Kason teased.

  Alon chuckled. “No, we no longer wear ‘bath’ robes. We Keepers also updated our attire. You approve?”

  Kason’s hand went to his chin. He looked deep in thought, and then quipped, “Is that a long skirt below the waist, there?”

  The light brown, long sleeved outfit tapered from a jacket to the waist, which then flared out to an outer skirt around the pants.

  “It’s a skirt-type, ‘bath’ robe. Do you mind if I borrow your hand towel?” Alon gestured to Kason’s sash.

  The two men smiled.

  “I concede, Keeper.”

  The men began to move through the corridor together.

  The inside of the Orion’s Rage did not look like warships of past, Kason noted.

  Its corridors were of clean black metal arranged in rounded triangular arch supports. The walls, ceiling, and floor were clear of any conduits or electrical tubing. The clean metal finish stood out by recessed white lighting on the ceiling and outer lower edges of the center deck plating. White frosted glass terminals intersected door entrances and major crossways.

  A mag-lev sled with equipment passed in front of Kason and Alon from another adjacent corridor.

  “How’s Ramek?” Alon asked.

  “He’s stable. Doctor Solome is running tests.”

  “Do you know what happened to him?”

  “Not yet. We’re still reviewing his battle suit’s recordings, but he may have had a run-in with a Kryth Mahr commando we didn’t know was on the outpost.” Kason took a breath. “It was supposed to be a flawless mission, Alon.”

  The Keeper walked alongside Kason, his arms behind his back, Alon measured his words. “We weren’t going to solve the riddle of the Kryth invasion with one mission, Kason. We’ve been searching for the last two centuries and have only gleaned bites of intel on why the Kryth did what they did to our species all those years ago. I know all mission parameters are important to you. And I know you don’t take these to heart, but you must be measured in your expectations regarding the Reaver Regiments, Kason.”

  Kason’s face tensed.

  He knew the words the Keeper spoke were true, yet he still struggled with the notion that his team did not perform without error.

  They came to a stop near a large arched door.

  Kason was lost in thought, and Alon -- knowing Kason better than he knew himself -- placed a hand on the Reaver’s shoulder.

  “Free your mind as I taught you, Kason. There will be a time later to contemplate missions past and what you could or should have done differently. If you come back from a mission, you are able to do these self-reflections, but only if you come back, which everyone did in this instance, including Ramek. Think more of what you and your team have accomplished, Kason. It’s a great achievement.”

  Kason raised his eyes to be even with his friend’s. “You always know the right words to say, Alon.”

  Alon smiled, pointing towards the large door awaiting the two men.

  “I should, as your superiors await us for debriefing.”

  “Thanks for the talk.” Kason patted his friend on the back as the two men entered the room.

  ∞∞∞

  Shenta Parejas looked up from his seat at the head of the table towards the open sliding door.

  Kason saw Shenta Parejas look up from his seat at the head of the table, towards the opening sliding door, as he and Alon entered.

  “Close report.” The small holographic image in front of Shenta flashed out on his command.

  The other four officers seated near commander Parejas studied their own various holographic reports. The multiple holographic projections lit the entire length of the conference table in a myriad of colors.

  Jesan Takkar sat next to Shenta’s left discussing the performance of the fleet’s ships with his counterpart, Nevlen Bossarios, who sat across from him. Jesan was First Rank Commander of the fleet’s starships. Nevlen was of the same rank, commanding the fleet’s ground forces. Both men occupied considerable positions of power within the Ordinance but still fell under the direct command of Shenta Parejas, Commander of the Ordinance forces and the fleet in its entirety.

  Doctor Solome brushed a light hair out of her face as she studied her medical reports, seemingly oblivious to the loud conversation between Jesan and Nevlen.

  Seated next to Jesan, she had probably grown accustomed to the often-heated confrontations between the two commanders.

  Lieutenant Commander Droe Temin stood and greeted the Keeper Alon, motioning him to sit in the empty chair between her and Nevlen Bossarios.

  She ignored Kason Bender.

  Kason stepped up behind her. “Hello, Lieu
tenant. Commander Temin.”

  Now acknowledged, she had to respond. She turned her head in his direction. “Captain Bender.”

  Kason found his seat across the table from Droe.

  Nevlen stopped his conversation with Jesan to glare at Kason.

  Alon winked across the table at Doctor Solome, who smiled back at him at some shared private joke.

  The holographic displays winked out as all present turned to face Ordinance Commander Parejas.

  Shenta’s short, white hair contradicted his age. For the past seventy years, Parejas was still the youngest fleet commander in the Ordinance’s history. He was still in his physical prime. Broad shoulders filled his uniform. Not as mine, Kason thought, but only slightly less.

  Parejas swept his pale gray eyes over the assembled officers.

  Droe Temin fidgeted in her chair. She seemed nervous.

  Kason sensed that he was the cause of her discomfort. Whether she was angry, irritated, or afraid, he could not say. Kason made a mental note to ask Alon about her emotional state later. Alon could discern the mental and emotional state of everyone in this room with ease.

  He noticed Doctor Solome was relaxed, but that was expected. She was the medical officer for Kason’s Reaver team and didn’t delve into anything that wasn’t science.

  Commander Jesan Takkar smiled at Kason, his teeth bright against his black skin, and inclined a friendly nod in his direction. Kason nodded in return towards the fleet commander whom he liked and respected.

  Kason returned the cold stare he received from Nevlen Bossarios, Jesan’s counterpart.

  Commander Nevlen did not hide his dislike of Kason, confirmed as he burst out, “Commander Parejas, shall we proceed with the debriefing now that all parties are finally present?” Nevlen addressed the room in general, but obviously meant it for Kason. “I’ve got a thousand tasks and precious little time to waste.”

  Captain Takkar laughed. “Join the club, Nevlen. We’re all just as busy as the next. Delegate, man.”

  The remark caused a few chuckles around the table.

  Nevlen glared across the table at Takkar and muttered, “I don’t even see why he has to be here,” indicating Kason. “It’s all in the reports.”

  “Reports are fine,” Parejas said, thrusting his remark in before Nevlen had the chance to say anything else, “but we need more than numbers, extrapolations, and conjecturing,” he continued. “We know much about the Kryth Mahr but have had no actual contact with them until now. Kason Bender and his Reaver team, as you are aware, completed their mission aboard the Kryth Mahr outpost named Dalyth Point at 1430 standard time.”

  All present in the room knew what the mission parameters had been. Parejas’s statement was only for the records. Parejas continued. “I requested Kason Bender’s presence to enhance our current information. Lieutenant Commander Temin, please give us a brief overview of the mission.”

  Kason heard Commander Nevlen blow his breath through clenched teeth, annoyed at the redundancy of this debriefing.

  All of the senior staff officers present had followed the mission in real time aboard the Orion’s Rage from the tactical command center on the bridge.

  Parejas looked at Commander Nevlen, then to Droe, before speaking again. “Lieutenant Commander, include the information omitted from the official record.”

  Nevlen’s eyes narrowed at Parejas.

  Lt. Commander Droe Temin stood up and keyed a larger holographic projector to life.

  She spoke with clarity.

  “The mission to neutralize Dalyth Point in sector S12D4 began at 1300 standard hours. The Reaver team, led by Kason Bender, infiltrated at 1304. Levels one, two, six and seven were cleared by 1345. Level three, by 1400. Primary and most, but not all secondary objectives were achieved by 1410. The mission ended by 1430. The data core was taken intact with full reference to Kryth Mahr military holdings and positions around Earth. Four hundred seventy-three Kryth Mahr confirmed dead. Seventeen escaped Dalyth Point in six life pods. Five of the survivors were Kryth Mahr. The remaining twelve were of other racial origin, including the Cuukzen scout. One of the Reavers was wounded, but is now recovering in the medical bay. There was no information found regarding the invasion of the Sol system by the Kryth two hundred and sixty-seven years ago. Current time 1940 standard,” she finished and sat down as Commander Nevlen jumped to his feet.

  Nevlen slapped the table with one hand, and with the other pointed an accusing finger across the table at Jesan Takkar.

  “Six life pods escaped?” yelled Nevlen at his fellow Commander. “Seventeen survivors, to include the Cuukzen scout. Did I miss part of the mission statement?” queried Nevlen with mock bewilderment.

  He turned towards Parejas and began to paraphrase the mission statement.

  “The first phase of the re-conquest will commence with the destruction of key military targets along the southern border of the Kryth Mahr Domain. The first of these targets being Dalyth Point on the outer fringes of Sol,” Nevlen recited.

  “Sit down, Commander Nevlen,” Parejas spoke in an irritated tone.

  Commander Nevlen ignored him and plowed onward.

  “The station Dalyth Point will be left intact but all inhabitants will be eliminated, no survivors are to remain except for the Cuukzen,” continued Nevlen.

  “We all know the mission statements,” interrupted Commander Takkar. “You don't have to quote it to us, Commander Nevlen.”

  “Apparently some of your ship’s crew did not understand what no survivors meant,” Nevlen turned on Takkar.

  Jesan Takkar kept his face impassive as Nevlen, not satisfied with ranting at his superiors, turned towards the other end of the table.

  “Maybe we should have deployed my troops to neutralize the station instead of some jacked up vat-babes.” Nevlen sneered at Kason.

  Kason bolted up out of his chair almost as fast as the Keeper Alon did. Kason slammed his open palms down on the table hard enough to jar it.

  Rage blazed behind his blue eyes as if he had been struck a physical blow across the face.

  Kason felt Alon’s hand grasping his right wrist with his own hand.

  Kason watched Commander Nevlen clench his jaw. His mouth opened to either apologize or further antagonize but Parejas cut him short.

  “Enough! Sit down! Now!” Parejas’s voice brooked no argument.

  Nevlen sat, followed by Kason and Alon.

  Parejas stared hard at Kason for a moment. He then shifted his icy glare to Commander Nevlen before speaking to him.

  “Do not presume to parse words with me Commander. You had your orders. I had mine. Any discrepancies between the two are my concern. Not yours. That is the end of this discussion,” Parejas said.

  Nevlen remained quiet as the debriefing continued.

  “A moment with you, Commander Nevlen.” Parejas said as the debriefing ended.

  Dr. Solome left, followed by Jesan Takkar as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

  Parejas noticed Alon already conversing with Kason as they left the conference room.

  Droe Temin waited for a moment before Parejas dismissed her to wait on the bridge. She turned and left.

  Commander Nevlen sat back in his chair with a scowl.

  Shenta Parejas leaned forward in his own chair before addressing his officer.

  “Your behavior was unacceptable. I will not have that in here, under any circumstance. Your style of command is your own once you are among your own troops but, here, I will not tolerate it.” Shenta's voice rose. “Do you understand, Commander?”

  “Yes sir,” replied Commander Nevlen.

  “If you have questions about orders, address them to me in private. Not in front of your fellow officers. Understood, Commander?” Parejas continued.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “I expect to reprimand junior officers from time to time, but not senior staff,” Parejas said with disapproval in his voice.

  “Yes, sir,” Nevlen replied.

 
; “Now. Might I ask what so concerns you?”

  Commander Nevlen was obviously angry but kept his temper in check. “Well, sir, why were our original mission parameters altered? Why did seventeen survivors escape by our own leave, including the Cuukzen scout?”

  “The Cuukzen scout slipped through the net, the rest I allowed to escape,” Parejas answered.

  Nevlen blurted out, “The Assembly decided.”

  “The Assembly appointed me Ordinance Commander, with broad discretionary powers at my disposal. I have the authority to change what must be changed as I see fit. I do not make light of such decisions.”

  Nevlen responded, “I'm sure you'll be able to justify your actions in front of the Assembly Mount when we return, sir? They will look closely at all of our performances. I'm sure they will investigate discrepancies.”

  “As they should, Commander,” Parejas said.

  “I will make sure I follow my orders,” added Nevlen, “to ensure neither I nor my troops do other than expected, sir. Am I dismissed, sir?”

  Parejas nodded. Commander Nevlen rose and moved towards the door.

  “One more thing, Commander,” Parejas spoke.

  Nevlen turned to face Parejas.

  “Continue to carry out your orders, Commander. But remember, your orders come through me. The Assembly is far away. My word is the final authority.” The threat was clear in Parejas's voice.

  Commander Nevlen nodded and spun on his heel, leaving the room.

  Data Cell 5

  Kason moved down the corridor towards the Reaver ready room.

  Several crew members stared at him as they walked past.

  Kason remembered what Alon said back on Janus regarding how the Reavers would be perceived, since most had never seen one in person, only hearing about them in stories and myths.

  The Reaver regiments were secret; upon their creation they had been kept from the rest of human society to focus on their sole purpose of retaking the Sol system and the planet Earth. No matter, he thought, only the unknown scares them; they mean nothing by it.

  Kason was about fifteen meters from the ready room door when Droe Temin caught him from around a corner.

  “Captain Bender,” she spoke, “could I have a word with you?”