Annals of the Keepers - Deception

by Christiaan Hile

  “Needs ten times as much cushion?” Kercy cut in.

  Ramek turned at Kercy, “Ten times? Is that what you got, vat-babe? I need ten times the cushion?”

  Everyone paused, waiting to see what would happen.

  “I like your style, Kercy.” Ramek smiled.

  Chuckles issued from everyone.

  Kason continued, “No worries, big guy. Doctor Solome thought just like Kercy did. Look here,” Kason activated the animation, “and you can see that, when a major impact occurs, the gel expands five centimeters. This is the same restrictive gel that’s in the insertion pods. It will give us added protection . . . even against walls.” Kason smiled at Ramek.

  Everyone laughed.

  Ramek wasn’t amused, “See, Kercy, no love. None at all. You watch yourself around here. No love, I tell you.”

  “Okay. Let’s get through this and onto our training,” Kason said.

  He proceeded to go over all the new features Doctor Solome had added to the already impressive Reaver armor. Kason knew that every upgrade would be needed to keep the Kryth on their toes. Even though he was glad to have the doctor’s input on the improvements, he was content to have his team back, with the Precept debacle behind him.

  Data Cell 12

  Laughter echoed loud in the vaulted chamber. Lintorth rose to his feet and turned to address the crowd. With a flourish, he draped his red cloak over his left arm and spoke, “I greet you, protectors of the Domain. As much as you would like, I am not here to ask forgiveness for a trespass upon hallowed tradition. I stand here to enlighten some of the more dull-witted present members who have forgotten days of the past and forgone what our ancestors, in their wisdom, bestowed upon us.

  “The Domain faces a threat. An enemy has been bold enough to attack us without provocation. I know some of the generals here believe the rumors that have circulated.”

  Shouts of “Is it true?” and “Tell us!” echoed off the stones.

  “I ask for patience,” Lintorth intoned, holding his hand up to silence the crowd, hissing its displeasure.

  “I will recount events from the last cycle to illuminate my position.” Lintorth looked at the loudest factions, willing them to silence with his stony glare. “Since the Montis Conference and the unprovoked massacre of Kryth Mahr subjects on Geen, the generals have been searching for our new enemy, as we now know are the Humans we thought extinct. We do not know from where they came and why they have chosen to engage the forces of the Domain in small, inconsequential skirmishes. Such as they are, this cannot be tolerated.”

  Some of the Kryth guardsmen talked to one another, relishing the prospect of combat and glory. The majority of military actions within the Domain consisted of boring patrols on the major interstellar travel routes and guard duty on less civilized planets.

  “We have benefitted from five hundred ronns of peace,” Lintorth Sar lectured, “and we have suffered from it.” He believed that the Domain and its citizens had grown complacent and soft from ronns of luxury and lack of purpose. The last great conflicts ended long ago when the Kryth Mahr, the Vrae, and the Mertiklask established the boundaries of their respective empires. “The time of peace has ended,” Lintorth stated.

  Many of the generals present now hung on Lintorth’s words, waiting.

  “War. The Domain must go to battle once again.” Cheering erupted in the Chamber Lore as many jumped to their feet and shook their fists towards the roof, howling with glee. Lintorth looked at his brother, Sontar, and greeted him a slight, mocking smile.

  “What is that trickster up to?” Sontar furrowed his brows. “The declaration of war comes too easy from his mouth. He plots. I know it.”

  “The bastard probably knows you’re right,” offered Zartock. “We should assemble the fleets and attack the Humans in the Kentabak Four System.

  “Poth Kar and Turlon Ti have thrown their support and their fleets. You, Sontar Jal, were able to extract information about the location of the Human star system from the captured Human warrior. He was rescued, but that comes from entrusting Comondons with anything more complicated than guarding a pillar of ice in the frozen wastelands of Urvik,” he finished.

  “It is easy, yes,” Sontar grumbled his ascent, “He is giving us what we want. Control of the fleets and the consent of the Red Throne to commence attacks on the Humans.”

  Zartock nodded. “Perhaps your brother is making a great public spectacle to save face in the moment of your guaranteed triumph. Your troops captured the Human warriors. Reavers, yes?” Sontar Jol grunted the affirmative. “And, in doing so, you put him to torture and were able to discover the location of the Human home world. No other Kryth Mahr General or Lord can lay claim to that feat,” he whispered in a harsh voice close to Sontar, lest he be overheard, “What does the Chief of Intelligence possess to placate Xoma Si with?”

  “Lintorth brought his precious Korin Shai,” Sontar gestured towards the floor below, baring his teeth like a predator, “He has nothing. His favor will wane this day and mine shall grow,” he exulted, “Xoma Si will have no choice but to acknowledge my path as superior to Lintorth’s spy craft and allow me to lead the Kryth Mahr to war with the Humans.” He rose from his seat with righteous purpose and raised his arms high over his head with his fists clenched.

  “I would speak to the Chamber Lore!” Sontar bellowed to be heard over the din. Many eyes directed their gaze upon him, allies and opponents alike. The level of noise decreased, not by much, incising Sontar’s anger at being ignored. “I will speak!” he roared, as he climbed upon the stone table in front of his seat, giving him an imposing height over the lower level of the generals. His outburst did not have the effect of the Si Lord’s, but the additional bellows for silence from his allies, Generals Poth Kar and Turlon Ti, helped, as did Zartok’s physical subjugation of two Kryth officers behind them on the second tier. Heavy blows, grunts of pain, and scuffling could be heard even farther up the tiers as factions loyal to General Sontar let their displeasure be known at the lack of respect shown for his rank and prestige. The tiers became silent. Sontar lowered his arms to his sides and addressed Xoma Si, seated on the Red Throne nonplussed, surrounded by her guards.

  “If the Domain is to commence war against the Humans, I humbly ask for your leave to command the fleets and lead my warriors against the enemies of our people,” he asked with masked disregard.

  “Humbly?” Lintorth queried, facetious.

  “Your warriors, my general?” countered Xoma Si. She drummed her left hand on the armrest of her throne, the metal gauntlet clacking in the ancient arena. “You address the Red Throne like the most banal street vendor, hawking his wares in a forgotten backwater of the realm.” The chamber grew still. The possibility of a second spectacle loomed close.

  “State your case, General Sontar Jal,” Xoma Si said without emotion, “Why should the Red Throne grant you sovereignty over the fleets and authority to make war upon our enemies, these Humans?”

  Sontar walked down the steps from the first tier and strode with confidence onto the stone floor of the Chamber Lore, stopping a respectful distance, just out of pike range from the Tactis guards. He opened his mouth, noticing the icy gaze of Xoma Si upon him. He knelt down on one knee before the ruler of the Domain instead of standing to speak.

  “My Si, I will not mince words or try to garner your favor with honeyed words, like Lintorth,” he paused before he spoke, “I know the location of the Human home world,” he declared. Xoma Si looked at him, inquiring with a look. Sontar pressed on, “I captured two Human warriors. One died from his wounds, but the other provided much information.

  “They are not as formidable as Lintorth Sar would lead you to believe. Our warriors are formidable as well, more than a match for any race. We hold our territories with ease and maintain strength beside the Vrae Empire and all others who seek to encroach upon our beloved Domain.”

  Cheering erupted in support of General Sontar Jal. His factions started to chant his name unt
il he admonished them with a look of false humility.

  “Do not play the crowd false, General,” Lintorth growled, “The Human threat is not a trivial one. We will not mobilize for war and crush them like one of our minor rebellions.”

  “Why not?” chided Sontar, “They have sent no mighty fleets against us, nor hordes of troops to overwhelm the Domain. They are of little consequence,” he dismissed.

  “They are not of little consequence!” roared Lintorth, “You are a fool.”

  Sontar leapt to his feet and moved to confront Lintorth Sar. They stood face-to-face, all attempts at civility fell away to be replaced with contempt for one another.

  “Fool, am I?” Sontar yelled. “I want to destroy the Humans at their point of origin in the Kentabak Four System. Once we accomplish the destruction of their home world, we can track down the remnants of their small fleets and destroy them piece-by-piece. It’s quite simple actually,” he finished with a smug grin.

  “Simple? It is not a matter of simplicity, General,” Lintorth said through clenched teeth. “Except for your feeble attempt at gathering intelligence, perhaps. Kentabak Four is not the origin of the Humans,” Lintorth finished, laughing.

  Sontar did not laugh. He hated Lintorth and his abilities to ferret out information and hidden data. “Where, then? Where are they, brother?”

  “My name. The ancestral name taken from me. That is the clue,” Lintorth provided.

  A look of confusion crossed Sontar’s face. “Sol?” he said. “The Sol system?” Some recognition dawned on him. “Dalyth Point. The outpost that was attacked by an unknown force over a ronn ago? The Humans, I speculate.”

  “Correct,” Lintorth said, turning his back to Sontar and walking towards the Red Throne before he turned back around. “Dalyth Point. The ruined planet it orbits is called Earth. It is, or more aptly, was, the birth world of the Humans. It was from there that they first started to colonize their solar system more than eight hundred ronns past.” Lintorth raised his voice a bit more so the upper tiers could hear him, as a low rumble of voices permeated the Chamber.

  “The Humans had only completed construction of their first vessels capable of interstellar travel almost three hundred ronns ago. The Domain was engaged in the great conflict with the Azliklon-Gashnee.”

  At the mention of the Kryth Mahr’s hated enemy, the Chamber grew loud with curses and warriors hissing between clenched teeth. The new masters of the Domain did not forget the centuries of subjugation under their previous overlords.

  “All gathered here remember the tales of the Gashnee enslavement, Lintorth Sar,” Sontar said with impatience. “And the accounts of your ancestor, Largoth Sar. He was the Fleet Lord that led the excursion that destroyed the last of the Gashnee in a remote sector of the galaxy long forgotten.”

  “It was forgotten by us,” Lintorth spoke. “It was not forgotten by the Humans. Their home world was destroyed in the last great battle. We drove the Gashnee out and divided their territories between the Kryth Mahr and the Vrae.”

  “It is of little consequence.” General Poth Kar rose from his seat. “All here know our histories and realize that our empire was built upon the ashes of another. The Humans seem to have been just another casualty of any war,” he said with a scorn to the assembled Kryth. “Great empires, as the Domain, always crush the lesser peoples underfoot. It has always been so.”

  “Maybe the Humans have returned for revenge,” Sontar mocked

  “Yes, I believe they have,” Lintorth spoke again. “The Humans want revenge for the destruction of their birthplace.”

  “Their attacks have been troublesome, but not of extreme import,” Sontar concluded out loud. “The Humans only raid and strike at us from the shadows. They fear to face us in open battle.” Poth Kar and many others nodded assent and grunted affirmations of sound reasoning.

  “It is us who should fear them. Any general present should acknowledge we face a potentially grave threat from an enemy of unknown strength and capabilities,” Lintorth protested.

  “The Kryth Mahr do not fear their enemies,” scoffed Poth Kar. “We strike them down without mercy.”

  “The Montis conference, General,” Lintorth reminded him. “Were not your warriors present there?”

  “Yes,” Poth Kar answered warily, noticing the gaze of Xoma Si upon him once again. “They fought the Humans when they attacked our delegation.”

  “I saw over sixty of your warriors fallen in the inner chamber after that conference,” Lintorth provided. “They faced but a pair of Human Reavers. They were unarmed and not geared for battle, General, yet they slew sixty of your warriors. I myself am a blooded warrior many times over and I would be hard-pressed to recall a similar feat of arms to match that fight.”

  “Then we will overwhelm them with superior numbers. The Kryth Mahr will fight, no matter the cost,” Poth Kar practically seethed at this humiliation. “Our warriors will kill every last one of these Humans if that is what it takes to defeat them!”

  “How many are there, General?” asked Lintorth, unfazed by the angry outburst. “How many warriors do the Humans bring to battle the Domain? One thousand? Ten thousand? Enough to overwhelm even our numbers? Does every Human warrior possess the deadly capabilities of these Reavers?” He looked about the Chamber Lore, searching for any indication that his words were giving pause to those who preferred to charge headfirst at the enemy, regardless of consequences. Lintorth saw some conversing in low voices with thoughtful looks upon their faces. Some seemed to be contemplating his words. Too few, though, seemed to have any doubt that the Kryth Mahr could defeat any enemy, even one they knew too little about.

  “Bruntok Gar,” Lintorth addressed, “You are the Master of the Korin Shai, and all here respect your order for their fearsome reputation and legendary exploits.” Bruntok Gar inclined his head to Lintorth, acknowledging the compliments. “Your warriors are without peer in the Domain and even our Vrae brethren are loath to admit this truth as well. What make of you these Human Reavers?”

  “They are more than worthy adversaries for the Korin Shai,” he spoke without preamble or further elaboration.

  Thoughtful looks changed to worry amongst the crowd of Kryth Mahr at the plain statement issued from the deadliest warrior in all of the Domain.

  “Enough of this!” shouted Sontar, rising to his feet once again. “Warriors alone do not win wars or topple empires. Our fleets possess the capability to reduce any adversary to ruin. Their warriors cannot face us if their worlds and ships are in flames.” He turned away from the floor below to address the Kryth Mahr assembled above him in the tiers of the chamber.

  “I say let me assemble an armada and destroy this Human threat. I can combine my fleet with those of Generals Poth Kar and Turlon Ti and proceed to Kentabak Four. We can annihilate the Humans on their home world, track down and destroy their fleet, and return to the business of the Domain maintaining its rightful territories and subjects,” Sontar concluded, as if his solution was a brilliant strategy.

  “Once again, your lack of understanding astounds me, brother.” Shaking his head in disbelief, Lintorth Sar walked to stand next to Sontar at the foot of the first tier. “The Humans have ships, capable ships, if you even remember the Montis conference. They brought one ship, as was allowed by the rules of delegation. For those of you not at the Montis conference personally, you may have heard second-hand accounts of what happened that may or may not impart how truly dangerous an enemy we now face,” Lintorth addressed those seated up in the higher tiers, as they were most likely to have heard accounts that were more palatable to the Kryth Mahr.

  “We were unable to stop the Human delegation, protected as they were by their Reaver warriors. That part, you have heard today. What you may not know is that we tried to stop their vessel from leaving the conference by force. The space station that they were docked to was an X Class military outpost.” Lintorth paused, as he could see looks of disbelief on the faces of the younger officers who knew
what the X Class was capable of.

  “Yes, there exists enough weaponry aboard the X Class to render any military vessel to ruin, including all but the most powerful Capital Class ships of the Domain and the Vrae Empire.

  “Yet, the Human ship shrugged off the point-blank bombardment as a youngling brushes a stinging bug away. . . and returned an attack of their own which crippled the X Class and destroyed two Exendoth destroyers before they jumped out of the system,” he finished.

  Turning away from the hissing crowd, voicing their consternation, Lintorth stared at Sontar before he spoke again, “Before you try to placate them, brother, about the uncontested might of the Kryth Mahr and rallying the whole of the Domain to join your fight, let me impart one more damning fact.”

  “Proceed, Chief of Intelligence,” a note of warning crept into Sontar’s voice.

  “I have asked for patience, my Lords and Generals, because we do not know the full capabilities of the Humans, the number of their warriors, or the size of their fleets,” Lintorth continued, “The Humans have also incorporated Gashnee technology into their own.”

  The uproar among the Kryth Mahr was instantaneous and deafening. Most of the factions loyal to Sontar’s plan of action roared out defiance at caution and patience, howling instead for total mobilization of Domain military forces to strike the Humans down now, before it was too late.

  “We must act with caution until we understand who we fight and how to best counter them with appropriate force,” Lintorth countered, roaring back at the crowd, “It is irrational to attack an enemy who you know so little about. You are fools!” he bellowed, losing patience with the incompetents.

  “At least the fools are not cowards, afraid to fight for the Domain,” one Kryth Mahr on the upper tiers said, audible through the commotion.

  The tumult of voices grew hushed. Sontar and Lintorth’s argument on the floor of the Chamber Lore was acceptable, as they were of similar rank within the Domain hierarchy. A more minor functionary or lower ranking officer, as denoted by his position upon the upper tiers, did not berate or dishonor a high-ranking General without serious consequence in front of the Red Throne.