by Doug Farren
“Correct. When the Kyrra, a supposedly dead race, reappeared after an Alliance ship passed through our space the assumption had been made that they were the dominant species of the Alliance. Yet, instead of attacking us, the Kyrra did nothing other than ask to talk to us. Our leaders assumed we had not been attacked because the Kyrra considered us too great a threat. Others, however, had different theories.”
“And you started to believe those theories,” Captain Sheppard joined the conversation. “So what made you hop in a ship and go looking for the Kyrra? What could you have possibly gained from doing such a thing? You're a civilian and you obviously did this on your own.”
“The truth,” Arukt Chaktekt replied without hesitation. “My children are all grown and no longer require my support. Both of my wives had recently died in an accident. And, coincidentally, a number of my coworkers shared my desire to know the truth. We sort of decided to find the Kyrra on our own.”
“Just like that?” Doug asked. “You decided to search out the Kyrra? A race that, according to your history, had sent your civilization back to the stone age. A race that might decide to accept your offer of communication then torture you to a horrible death? I don’t buy it.”
Arukt Chaktekt let out a loud huffing growling noise. Ken realized it was a Chroniech laugh. “Neither did we after we sobered up but by then we were in deep space and committed. We discussed it and thought why not, none of us had anything to lose”
“Sobered up?” Ken started to laugh. Through his growing laughter he managed to add, “You did this on a drunken dare? Oh-my-God!”
Ken’s laughter was contagious. Soon all the Humans and the Chroniech were laughing. The three Kyrra sat in stunned silence trying to figure out what was so funny.
After the laughter had subsided, Captain Sheppard asked, “Norgoola, we are 25 light years from the Chroniech home world. Weren’t you worried about choosing this location for our rendezvous? There are probably hundreds of cloaked tracking stations nearby.”
Norgoola took a large swallow from his blue petal fizz before replying. “In order to isolate all of Chroniech space using the hyperdimensional field, the worldship needed to be positioned near the center of their space. This coincided with the location of their home world. To hide the final location of the worldship we located and destroyed all the tracking stations within thirty light years of our intended final location.”
“This was necessary because, as you know, drive wakes cannot be masked. It would have been a simple matter to locate the worldship based upon where the drive field had been shutdown. While we were traveling from station to station we deployed our own tracking stations.”
“Okay,” Scarboro said reaching for the coffee carafe. “That covers the first few weeks after you arrived here. I’m sure the Chroniech were quick to install replacements. What about those?”
“The Chroniech assumed we had positioned the worldship very close to their home planet. They have been concentrating on deploying new stations in that area. In order to confuse them even further each time a new replacement station was deployed, we destroyed it. This caused them to believe they had indeed located the approximate location of the worldship.”
“Over time it became increasingly difficult to destroy the stations as the Chroniech continued to increase their weapons and shielding technology. About eight years ago we stopped destroying their new stations. Very few, however, have been deployed in this area.”
“That brings us to a question that has been on my mind since we received your transmission,” Doug began. “You seem to have everything under control so, I have to ask, why are we here? Why have you risked so much to meet with us in person? Arukt Chaktekt can't be the sole reason for asking us here – so what is it?”
The Kyrra all looked at each other prompting Doug to add, “It’s obvious that the Chroniech have been trying to break through the hyperdimensional barrier and it appears as if they will soon succeed. Therefore, it makes sense for you to send several ships into Alliance space to assist us in our defense.”
“Because of the effect the hyperdimensional barrier has on our space, the breach will occur at a single location allowing us to mass a sufficiently large force to destroy anything that comes through. I suspect though that something more drastic is about to happen which is why you have asked us to come here. So I ask the question – Why are we here?”
Ken looked at Doug as understanding flooded his mind. Because the breach into Alliance space would occur at a single point, the Alliance would have an overwhelming tactical advantage. Several Kyrra ships armed with their most advanced weapons would be able to destroy every Chroniech warship as it emerged into Alliance space. Coming through the barrier at a single point would have been suicide. That meant…
Norgoola looked at Ken then locked eyes with Doug. “The Chroniech will indeed soon be able to breach the hyperdimensional field. For the past several years they have been preparing a massive invasion force. They have been building ships armed with weapons based, in part, on technology they have learned through their analysis of our own weapons. Their plan, however, is not to invade the Alliance through a single breach.”
Ken’s subconscious mind ran through hundreds of possible scenarios without him realizing it. One scenario resolved itself into a strong possibility. Now that he understood what was happening he mentally followed the chain of reasoning to the ultimate conclusion. In an instant everything made sense and he blurted out, “They’ve found a way to shutdown or neutralize your hyperdimensional generator! My God! Have they found a way to destroy the worldship?”
Everyone stared at Ken. Doug thought he had lost his mind but out of the the corner of his eye he saw the Kyrra did not share this view. The look on their faces told him that Ken was right. The ramifications were staggering.
Not bothering to seek confirmation, Doug turned toward Norgoola and asked, “I guess that answers my question but I want to know how?”
The three Kyrra looked at each other. Cha’nacha finally said, “The worldship is threatened through the very device that is keeping them prisoner within their own space – the hyperdimensional barrier.”
“I don’t follow,” Ken said after a moment. “The barrier encloses an area of space 1,200 light years in diameter. It is generated by your worldship which is safely cloaked and nearly impossible to locate. How on earth could they turn the barrier into a weapon?”
“The Chroniech,” Cha’nacha began, “know a great deal about transdimensional physics. They know it is impossible to establish a long-term stable breach of the barrier. A passable breach can be created but it is short-lived and requires a tremendous amount of energy. A smaller breach can be created from outside the field using significantly less energy. The Chroniech have recently built several ships capable of generating the required breach field. They have been working to establish a temporary breach that will remain open long enough to move these breach ships into Alliance space.”
Doug scratched his chin and announced, “I don’t see the connection. First off, as soon as the breach ship appeared in Alliance space it would be destroyed. Secondly, how can a breach from either side possibly result in the destruction of the worldship?”
“A single breach will cause a small strain on the field generators,” Cha’nacha explained, “but it would be well within their design limits. Multiple breaches would create more strain but, again, would not cause the generators to exceed their design capacity. The danger occurs if two external breaches are connected together to form a hyperdimensional tube.”
“External, not internal? What's the difference?” Ken asked.
“The equations of transdimensional physics quite clearly distinguish between an internal and an external breach. For instance, an internal… ”
“No need to explain,” Scarboro interrupted. “Just tell us, in simple terms, what will happen if two external breaches are created.”
“Two external breaches connected by a hyperdimensional tube,” Cha'
nacha corrected. “The equations are quite complex but, in simple terms, the tube would create a feedback loop that would pass through our generator creating a rift in space which would quickly collapse releasing an enormous amount of energy. This energy would appear within the field generator resulting in the complete destruction of the worldship.”
Captain Sheppard motioned toward Arukt Chaktekt with her thumb. “Do you think it’s wise for him to be listening to all this or is he the one who provided you with this information?”
Arukt Chaktekt’s claws, which had previously appeared to be short, much like Human fingernails, extended themselves, his upper lip curled exposing his impressive teeth and his hair seemed to stand out more. “No Chroniech would ever betray his race,” he said. The vocoder translated it in a neutral tone but the tone of his own language made it perfectly clear he was upset at nearly being called a traitor.
“I don’t think you have to worry about the breach ships,” Ken said trying to break the tension that had just appeared in the room. “We have enough firepower parked on our side of the barrier to blow any ship the Chroniech sends through to atoms.”
Norgoola put a furry hand on top of Ken’s shoulder. “Your confidence in the strength of your weapons is admirable. However, the Chroniech have considerably improved their shielding technology since you last encountered them. I believe you will find their ships to be quite difficult to destroy. The breach ships, as we have just recently learned, are equipped with a totally reflective full-coverage shield. Your ships have been unable to destroy it.”
“We haven’t exactly been idle all these years,” Doug said. “We have made significant improvements in our weapon systems. The Chroniech will find it difficult to survive for long under our guns.”
Norgoola’s phrasing of his last response bothered Ken. He thought about it for a moment then said, “Wait a minute! You just told us that our ships have been unable to penetrate the shield of the breach ship that went through the barrier. How do you know this?”
“We have duplicated the transdimensional communications system employed by the Chroniech,” Cha’nacha replied almost as if he was restating old news. “We have been in contact with our ships now currently in Alliance space.”
“What!” Scarboro did not conceal his surprise nor his apparent anger. “And you are just now telling us about this?”
Stricklen was dumbfounded. “You mean to tell me that you can communicate through the barrier? I thought that was impossible.”
“The communications system is a recent development,” Cha’nacha replied. “It is based on Chroniech technology. It is not only capable of instantaneous communications across any distance, but it will also cross the hyperdimensional barrier. It is one of the technologies we will be providing your people.”
“When were you going to tell us about this new technology?” Scarboro repeated.
“We have been discussing other issues of equal importance,” Cha’nacha replied. “The existence of the instantaneous communications device would eventually have been revealed when the time was appropriate. Apparently that time is now.”
“So what are we going to do about the breach ship that is even now preparing to poke a hole in the barrier?” Ken asked trying to get the conversation back on track.
Norgoola picked up his glass and finished off the last of his blue petal fizz. “Our probes monitored the testing of the breach ship’s trans-dimensional field generator. Unless they have made some improvements in the design, the ship that passed into your space while the field was down will require nearly three weeks to build up sufficient power to create a breach field. For now, there is nothing else we can do.”
“How many ships managed to cross into Alliance space?” Captain Sheppard asked.
Norgoola calmly replied. “One breach ship and eleven military vessels crossed into Alliance space while the field was down. All have been destroyed except for the breach ship.”
“You said it takes two breach ships to create the tube,” Captain Sheppard said. “How long do we have before a second ship makes it through?”
“We don’t know. The Chroniech have made several attempts to create a breach but none have lasted more than a few seconds. We are keeping a very careful watch on their generating station and we will know the moment a breach ship has successfully passed through the barrier. Because we cannot detect the presence of a hyperdimensional tunnel until it is too late, we will drop the barrier the moment that happens.”
“This has been a very good discussion but my original question remains unanswered,” Scarboro said as he looked at each of the three Kyrra in turn. “Why are we here?”
After sitting silent throughout the entire meeting Ken was surprised when Olincha answered Doug’s question. “When the hyperdimensional field is dropped, the Chroniech will invade the Alliance. War will once again be upon us. We must find a way to negotiate with the Chroniech or billions of lives will be lost. We have tried everything we know of to get them to talk to us without success. We need your help.”
“I guess that explains why you requested who you did,” Doug replied. “I was wondering why you asked for three psychologists and a politician in addition to Ken and myself.”
Ken turned and looked up at Arukt Chaktekt. “Why don’t you and your friends become our negotiators? Can’t you talk to your government?”
“We tried. We recorded several messages to our government. They were ignored. In fact, the automated ships used to transmit the messages were destroyed. I fear we have been labeled as insane.”
“Four of you returned home,” Scarboro stated. “What happened to them?
“It is not known what became of my friends. They have no way of contacting us.”
“If the Chroniech leaders had listened to them,” Olincha elaborated, “they should have contacted us by now.”
“I’m curious,” Ken began. “What do you and your friends do for a living?”
Arukt Chaktekt had grown tired of standing and had made his way over to a smaller table that occupied a corner of the room. He pushed a plant to one side and sat down. “We build houses. Higt owns a small architectural firm. Bragnakt and myself are carpenters. Corthrugret is an electrician. We have worked together for years.”
“Oh that’s just great!” Scarboro threw up his hands. “We are about to go to war and the only hope we have of preventing it is from a member of a drunken construction crew that won't go home. Wouldn’t it make more sense for the worldship to simply eliminate the Chroniech fleet? Then we can talk peace after they surrender.”
“We will no longer take the worldship into battle.” Norgoola’s reply was a bombshell. The room went silent as the Humans digested this unexpected development.
Captain Sheppard broke the silence first. “Why not? You’ve at least built a fleet – right?”
“Despite its weaponry, the worldship was never constructed as a ship of war,” Norgoola replied. “It is our home. Taking it into battle would put our entire population at risk. This is something we will not do. We do have a limited number of warships but they are needed to protect the worldship if that becomes necessary.”
“This is nuts!” Stricklen exclaimed. “You brought us all the way here to tell us that?”
“No,” Olincha argued back. “We asked you to bring a team of skilled individuals here so we could attempt to bring peace between the Alliance and the Chroniech. We would like to meet with these people now.”
“We are providing technological aid to the Alliance,” Norgoola added. “But our primary goal is to achieve a lasting peace between your two cultures. Arukt Chaktekt has already pledged his support in this effort. He can provide much insight concerning his people. Your wife, Tashara, seemed to understand us quite well which is one reason we specifically asked for her. I am looking forward to seeing her again.”
Stricklen’s hands clenched into a tight fist and his neck muscles knotted up. He stared at the center of the table and slowly stood up. “My wife is dead
,” he said through clenched teeth. For a moment he looked as if he was going to say something else but, instead, he turned and walked out of the room.
Preparing for War
The buzz of the communications panel caused Fleet Commander Chomach to pause with his arm in mid-air. Had the interruption not occurred he would have taken his first bite of the meal his chef had prepared for him. Scowling, he looked at the panel as if he could shame it into silence. The panel buzzed again as he placed the succulent morsel of roasted meat in his mouth. He savored the taste for a few seconds before reaching over and acknowledging the call.
“We have received a priority communications from fleet command,” a voice said.
“I will read it here,” Chomach replied and terminated the connection. As he cut himself another slice of meat he said, “Computer, display the message from fleet command.”
A small screen next to the intercom panel came to life and a text message appeared. He quickly read it, finished chewing, then contacted the bridge. As soon as the face of the watch officer appeared on the screen the Fleet Commander said, “Retransmit the orders from fleet command to all ships. Execute the order as soon as the fleet is ready. Deploy thirty stealth probes in a wide pattern prior to departing.”
His next call went to his executive officer. A few minutes later the XO arrived. “We have been ordered to Mintaka.”
Following proper military protocol the executive officer had remained standing. “I have read the transmission,” he replied. “The Alliance is evacuating and pulling back from this area of space. I would imagine that it is in anticipation of a possible breach of the barrier by the Chroniech.”
Chomach stuffed a large piece of raw vegetable into his mouth and crunched on it until he could talk again. “It is not like the Alliance to run away like a bunch of cowards. There must be some reason for these new orders.”
The executive officer knew exactly why the Fleet Commander was playing this question and answer game. Chomach had spent ten years as an instructor at one of the best Tholtaran military schools. He still enjoyed challenging his officers by playing as if he knew less than they did.
