Mistuuk waited for Voskal to work it out.
Voskal continued. “If I am correct, this thirty percent looks much like…” Before he could finish the aired thought, Mistuuk stepped in and ended the sentence for him.
“…like an Azliklon-Gashnee matrix?”
A blade being unsheathed rang and was at Mistuuk’s throat.
Voskal Lat’s nervous amazement now turned serious, his eyes flashed over Mistuuk’s stunned expression.
“You do not speak that name ever again, neither in my presence nor anyone else’s. That race does not exist any longer. You work for the Domain now, your life continues by our generosity. Do I make myself clear, Cuukzen?”
“Yes.”
“Now, how do I make a secure transmission to Dranneous Kor?” Voskal asked.
Voskal took the blade away from the Cuukzen’s throat.
Mistuuk started to bring up the communication console as Voskal Lat re-sheathed his knife.
∞∞∞
The sand swirled around the dunes outside the hidden bunker.
The four Kryth soldiers still stood their posts, oblivious to the shifting sands on the hill to their flank, close to the shuttle.
The sand moved as though water were running over its surface.
Kason spoke into his helmet’s display. “Terrain cammo, off.”
The watery sand shifted one last time and faded over the three Reavers and two of Nevlen’s troopers.
The ‘Go’ signal was issued and Kason’s team was up from their prone positions with weapons drawn.
Kason’s team, with Ramek’s and Jens’ replacements, moved down towards the Kryth soldiers.
∞∞∞
The console image came through. The voice on the other end spoke.
“What is your report, my friend?” Lintorth said.
“The bounty hunter was correct. He captured the hyper-space signature matrix of the unknown ship. And, Lintorth,” Voskal took in a breath before he said his next words, “only seventy percent of the matrix is unknown. The other thirty percent has been cross-checked and identified with two other samples, confirming to me this portion of the signature is Gashnee in nature.”
Voskal did not want to make eye contact with Lintorth on the screen when he said it. His head went down; waiting for the angry reply he thought would come.
The Cuukzen stood there, watching both of them for a reaction.
It was Lintorth who spoke first.
“This, I could use. What of the seventy percent of the signature. Do we have any leads on whose portion this belongs to?”
Voskal swooned with joy as the condemning he anticipated did not occur.
“No, Lintorth, we do not know of the remaining seventy percent. Shouldn’t we worry about the Gashnee portion of the data?” Voskal Lat volunteered.
“These beings and their technology are not Gashnee, not even close. The Gashnee are extinct and long forgotten, but it is fascinating to know part of their signature does match Gashnee tech,” Lintorth finished as he contemplated the situation.
Voskal Lat seemed confused. “But the Gashnee lead should be followed up. Shouldn’t it?”
“Our answers lie with this unknown race. Their signature holds the clues, as does the attack on Sol. It’s all starting to come together.” Lintorth’s eyes darted as he searched his thoughts for the answers. “I believe the Lore Archives on Dranneous will hold the final resolutions we seek.”
“The Lore archives? The Si Lord will not grant you access to that data, even if your name holds honor with your Lore father’s, Lintorth. I mean once you lay the Gashnee info on the Generals, they will shut you down before you even give such a request.”
“I will use this to our advantage. I want you to begin a secure transmission and send the matrix data,” Lintorth said.
“I do not understand. We must track the Gashnee lead and…”
“We will. This unknown race has the answers to the riddle at hand. Send it now, Voskal Lat.”
Voskal motioned Mistuuk to begin the transmission. The data began to relay.
“I want you to destroy the console from where this is being sent, Voskal. Do you understand?”
Voskal did not hesitate. The console showed the transfer of data at sixty-percent when the roar of weapons’ fire came muffled through the sand bunker.
“Voskal! Send the data and destroy the back track!” Lintorth insisted.
∞∞∞
The Kryth soldiers fell where they stood. The teams’ weapons cut them down as the group approached the shuttle.
Kason signaled Nevlen’s two troopers up the ramp.
A short moment later, muffled weapons’ fire issued from inside the shuttle. Nevlen’s men came back down, signaling to Kason all was clear, the shuttle was theirs.
Kason, Keelen, and Maddox continued towards the bunker and down the stairs.
Maddox approached the door; he attached the flat bastards around the outer edge and set the center counter to the number three.
Kason attached a magnetic plate with a tether to the center.
They both backed down the corridor towards the stairs.
Kason nodded and Maddox detonated the device.
The almost silent concussion sounded with a whump.
Kason pulled the tether, with the help of Keelen, as the metal door fell to the floor. The two Reavers were in the room with Keelen standing guard outside.
Bang! The flash of a stun round found the center of the room. The Reavers were on top of Voskal Lat and Mistuuk, while they were stunned.
Maddox grabbed Voskal and tossed him across the room into the crates with a crash.
He then grabbed Mistuuk and bound his arms behind his back.
Kason approached the monitor screen close-up. There, staring back at him, was Lintorth Sol.
Kason spoke in the Krythtinian language, “Thanks for your cooperation, Kryth. Or should I say, Lintorth Sol.”
Kason pulled the data disc form the console and cut the transmission to the monitor.
Lintorth’s angry expression flickered out with the signal.
Maddox lifted Mistuuk right off his feet from the bindings behind his back, carrying him like a small sack.
Mistuuk let out a grunt as the Reaver moved out the door.
Kason spoke into his HUD, “Set retro-dart, tranq. Target Kryth Mahr. Set, one hour.”
Kason raised his fist towards Voskal, who was now just shaking off his misfortune.
The dart fired and hit Voskal in his torso.
Voskal looked down at the barb.
He went to remove it only to fall face-first onto Mistuuk’s trash-riddled cot.
Kason exited the bunker.
Keelen greeted him at the shuttle’s ramp. “We’re all set here, boss.”
“Let’s get off this moon and rendezvous with the Flashpoint,” Kason said.
Kason tapped Keelen on the shoulder as the three Reavers ascended the ramp. Nevlen’s troopers were the last to board from their guard positions.
The ramp closed behind them. The engines came to life and the captured Kryth shuttle roared up through the dusty atmosphere.
Data Cell 17
The shuttle veered through the clouds of Kalanis as the planet’s surface came into view. It had been a full moon since Lintorth last laid eyes on his home world. What a glorious sight to see during spring-glory, he thought.
Breaking through the last sporadic cloud layer, Kalanis City appeared in all her splendor.
The futuristic cityscape went on for miles. The lush green foliage and blue streams crisscrossed the landscape darting in and out between the city’s architecture.
The shuttle came to a rest on one of many landing pads near a half-pyramid shaped structure.
Lintorth stepped off the ramp and headed towards the enormous building’s entrance.
The guards in the corridor stood at attention as Lintorth passed.
He knew his comrades must be seething with anger at this moment, waitin
g for his briefing, not being able to do what they wanted against the new unknown threat towards the Domain.
He must convince the Si Generals, if not the Si Lord, that attacking Earth at this time would be futile. A far heftier task than fighting the black-armored being.
The great Chamber Lore stretched ahead of him. He observed the splendor of the massive pillars and arched ceiling. They gave a far greater impression of strength and security than the generals who waited for him inside ever could.
Lintorth could already hear the commotion going on within the chamber as the strident voice of General Poth Kar presided over the others.
Lintorth walked between the last two guards and their Aythra beasts, and entered the chamber unseen.
“This is an outrage! We sit idly by while the whole of the Domain could be under attack!” General Poth Kar shouted.
He saw the generals standing around a large glass tac-board in the center of the room, engaged in their discussions, still oblivious to his entrance.
There was General Poth Kar, equal to Lintorth’s height but not his build, the black cape designating the Kar family line. The thinner one, and almost as tall, was General Turlon Ti; the gray cape noted his line as second in order.
Lintorth couldn’t place the third but knew he was boot-licking around somewhere.
General Ti voiced his concern. “The Voktar Nar fleet is in sector 24-T and within circles of Sol. We need to send them in and retake the system. I agree with General Poth Kar.”
A grin seeded General Poth Kar’s face.
He turned.
“Well, well. It’s the secret warrior of the Domain, Lintorth Sol. We’ve been wasting our precious time waiting for you. I do hope you brought some answers besides a good story,” Poth Kar announced.
Lintorth approached the generals.
“Charming as always, brother. Have I been missed?” Lintorth asked with a sarcastic tone.
“Always sly and witty aren’t we, Lintorth. I am glad to see your seriousness regarding the matter at hand.”
“We don’t have time for your games, Lintorth,” General Ti stated. “We can attack now without you and your damn secretive information.”
“Attack whom, General Ti? I might be in agreement if you could tell me whom we want to attack.” Lintorth stood there, waiting for an answer he knew would not come. “No?” Lintorth questioned.
General Ti’s eyes flashed with anger, his fists clenched.
Poth Kar approached Lintorth.
“Why don’t you get on with what you’ve come to tell us all? We can let the Si decide whether we should attack or not,” Poth Kar said.
A voice came from the shadows near the back of the room.
“Lintorth, Lintorth. Must it always come down to subterfuge with you?” General Sontar Jal asked, approaching the group.
“There you are, my brother. I figured you would slither from the shadows sooner or later,” Lintorth quipped.
Lintorth observed Sontar Jal approach with that casual grin he always seemed to have splashed across his smug face. His white cape followed behind him. Lintorth knew that, out of all the generals, Sontar was the one you always had to keep an eye out for, or you just might wake up beside your own beating heart.
Sontar Jal moved towards Lintorth with arms behind his back. “Are we trying once again to move up the command structure with some feeble and misguided hunch? You know, Lintorth, being third order in line from the Si makes one desperate. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Enough of this banter,” Poth Kar interjected.
Sontar continued to stir the muddy waters. “Yes, enough of the drama, Lintorth. Please, enlighten us with your tactical view on why we shouldn’t attack the Sol system.” Sontar’s eyes narrowed as he savored his next words. “You know, that system, the one which bears your inherited family name. Another disgrace upon the old blood line, huh, Lintorth?”
Lintorth was no stranger to his brother’s taunts.
He stood there without flinching or contorting his face to the verbal lashes he was receiving. His lack of response kept drawing them in more and more, as if intentional.
General Ti had about enough. “You stand there so arrogant; nothing to offer but silence. Your disgrace goes beyond words. The time has come. We will attack on the next full circle.”
“What will it be, Lintorth? Are you with us in this final decision or will you back down in the face of the unknown?” Sontar said.
“That’s it. I have had as much as I can stomach with this coward. Call the Si. She will override his silence and give us what we want,” Poth Kar lashed out.
Lintorth spoke. “Would you like to know the information I bring?” Lintorth drew them in closer with the question. “The ship matrix I gathered of the unknown enemy is a match to. . . “
Lintorth paused to extract the last bit of patience from them.
“…the Gashnee.”
The generals reeled back, their grinning expressions now gone, turned to shock and repulsion towards the name Lintorth spoke.
“You lie, Lintorth Sol!” Ti yelled.
Poth Kar was bursting at the seams. “This is outrageous! How dare you elicit that name here! What evidence do you have but from some useless Cuukzen spy?”
Poth Kar turned and walked a short distance, too aggravated to stand in one place, which Lintorth enjoyed seeing.
Clapping and chuckling issued from Sontar. “Bravo, bravo, my brother. You have outdone yourself this time. You bring 500 years of peace in the galaxy to an instant stand-still with your phony information on the long-forgotten Gashnee. I call your ruse.”
Lintorth walked a few feet to the tac-board and placed a sem-disc into a glass slot. The glass board blackened and sprang forth the hyper-drive matrix of the unknown enemy, which Voskal had relayed to him hours earlier.
The generals stood stunned, even Sontar Jal’s expression went numb.
A smile came over Lintorth’s face.
“Who stands in silence now, brothers?” Lintorth said.
A voice, much different in tone from the generals’, different in gender, spoke out.
“Lintorth, must you amuse yourself with the generals this way. You know how sensitive they get when they are eager for battle,” the Si Lord said as she approached the group.
It had been several full moons since Lintorth laid eyes upon Xoma Si. Her beauty was renowned across the Domain.
Her sultry glide caught all attention in the room as she passed by the generals and over to Lintorth.
The generals and Lintorth bowed to acknowledge their subservience.
“My Si,” Lintorth said.
Her galaxy blue cape brushed his arm as she rounded behind him. Her long black hair fell in front, cascading down the inviting breast armor.
“Lintorth is correct when he says Gashnee,” She said.
She had all the generals’ attention.
Sontar Jal glared at Lintorth with hatred in his eyes at the favor he now seemed to garner with the Si.
She continued. “The signature Lintorth brought is not fully Gashnee. Only parts of it match. The rest is that of another race; a race called humans.”
All the generals looked at one another, confounded by the unfamiliar race.
“How does my Si know this?” Poth Kar asked.
“Their government acknowledged their attendance to the upcoming conference of races being held next cycle in the Montis system. They sent word that they would explain all on why they have attacked our holdings around Sol.”
“How can we allow their presence at the conference after what has happened?” General Ti questioned.
“They said there would be no more attacks on the Domain as long as the Sol system remained unchallenged by the Kryth Mahr, and that all would be explained if safe passage is allowed to the conference.”
Sontar jumped into the discussion. “We can’t allow this. It doesn’t matter who they are. No one has dared oppose the Domain in 500 years. And now we just allow them to ke
ep what they have taken without even a mere thought? The weakness this shows.”
“How could we not? We know nothing of them. It would be wise to learn before we act,” Lintorth added.
“Lintorth is correct. We must learn of our new adversary if we are to know how to defeat them. This is what I have decided,” she said.
The Si moved to the tac-board.
The glass turned to a galaxy image showing Kryth holdings throughout many sectors.
“Generals, you will have full defense mobilization at your disposal. You will command all forces to reposition in any sector without needing my approval. This order will last for a full cycle.” She paused and turned to Lintorth, “And, Lintorth, you will have the same amount of time to find out any information regarding this race. At that time, I will make a decision on whether we attack and retake the system or allow their delegation to speak at the conference.”
“My Si, may I make a request?” Lintorth asked.
The generals looked on with suspicion towards Lintorth.
“May I have full access to the Lore Archives to unearth any information on this human race?” Lintorth asked.
Uproar broke out.
“He cannot be allowed to view the secret archives,” General Ti said.
“No, I object to this viewing,” Poth Kar announced.
“No one but the Si is commissioned to. . . “
Sontar was cut off.
“My word is law and it is final.” The Si looked over her generals. “These files within the archives may save the Domain.”
“Or condemn it,” Sontar said under hushed breath.
The rest drew back at his comment towards the Si.
She approached Sontar Jal. “You have nothing to worry about, general.” Sontar sank down before her. She continued. “What Lintorth will know is what you will know and that knowledge will stay with you all and it will die with you all.”
Everyone bowed their acceptance.
“Now go. Defend the Domain. Find this new enemy who hides the secrets of our destruction,” she said.
The Si Lord turned and exited the Chamber Lore.
The generals sneered at Lintorth as their capes undulated through the air as they left the chamber.
Lintorth stood there for a moment, not realizing what he had asked of the Si. This information in the Lore Archives could be as Sontar said, a condemning venture against the Domain.
Annals of the Keepers: War 267 (Book 1 in the Gashnee Saga) Page 11
