by Dave Bara
They had been monitoring the incoming Gataan ships for several minutes. There were a dozen of them, obviously of an older design. The energy signatures indicated they were equipped with localized jump drives, but not full hyper-dimensional drives like modern cruisers. This was a design that indicated they were of a class of ship common three centuries earlier.
“Are those ships a threat to us?” Yan asked of Aybar.
“Our best indication is that have a design common with the light frigates of your time, captain,” Aybar said.
“Can frigates hurt us?” asked Renwick. Yan shook her head.
“Not fatally,” she said. “Our EM field is probably too strong. But they can make our lives miserable, like a swarm of wasps. The bigger question is whether or not they can slow down that Soloth fleet or their more advanced brothers.”
“That is the question,” said Renwick rhetorically.
“They’re charging weapons,” warned Aybar.
“Standard defenses, Amanda,” ordered Yan.
“Belay that,” cut in Renwick.
“But they’re charging their weapons!” said Yan. “We have to defend ourselves!”
“If we do, then we’re automatically enemies!” he insisted.
Yan came around the console and went straight at Renwick, getting right in his face. “The barbarians are at the gates, Renwick! I’ll not risk my ship on this folly of yours!” she said.
Renwick looked to Amanda. “Open the landing bay doors, Amanda,” he commanded.
“Are you insane?” said Yan.
“Maybe,” he said. “But the way I see it we don’t have a choice. Make an enemy today and we’re finished.”
“I cannot follow any orders except those of Captain Yan or her designee,” interjected Amanda, standing down from her console. Renwick looked to Yan.
“Then you have a decision to make,” he said to her. “Do you trust me or not?”
Yan clenched her fists and stomped away, then came back, pacing back and forth like a lion in a cage. Finally she came up to Renwick and stuck her finger in his face.
“When this is over, you and I are going to have to have a long talk about command structure on this ship,” she said. He bowed his head slightly.
“Granted. Now, Amanda is waiting for your orders,” he said. Yan turned to the android, fists clenched on her hips, her face red in frustration and anger.
“Stand down defenses,” she said, “and open the landing bay doors.”
“Yes Captain,” said Amanda.
THE GATAAN FRIGATE landed smoothly on the landing deck. Renwick stood with Aybar behind the environmental shield, which extended to envelop the frigate once it had settled. Yan was back on the command deck, much to her own consternation, but she had been convinced by Renwick’s argument that she was the least dispensable person on board the Kali. He had chosen Aybar as his assistant based on her redundancy of skills with Yan and his new-found knowledge of her expertise in tactics. Renwick found it strange that they had spent more than three months together on board the Phaeton but had never really discussed her military background or qualifications. He made a mental note to get to know the people he traveled with better in the future.
Renwick surmised that the frigate was big enough to house a crew of about twenty. It was by far the largest ship in the bay, dwarfing the skiff, tanker-refuelers, and maintenance vessels scattered about, but the bay itself further dwarfed the frigate. Renwick speculated they could have fit half the Gataan flotilla onboard with no difficulty. The Phaeton itself might even had fit inside, but he couldn’t be certain.
Yan had radioed down over the com that the Gataan had taken up positions surrounding the Kali, ready to “sting” her at a moment’s notice. Renwick hoped that his next action would keep that from happening.
A hatch opened on the frigate and a step ladder deployed down to the deck. Multiple Gataan soldiers poured out of the hold and took up positions facing Renwick and Aybar. Renwick waited until they were settled and then turned and signaled to Thorne, who activated a defense shield as a barrier between the two humans and the robot. He and Aybar were officially on their own now.
“I don’t suppose you speak Gataan?” he asked Aybar. She smiled.
“No, unfortunately. Not in my training,” she said.
“Too bad, that,” he looked around the bay for signs of any other activity, Seeing none, he started forward. “Just follow my lead, smile, and don’t make any sudden movements,” he said.
“Understood.”
Renwick walked deliberately forward, getting to within about ten meters of the soldiers before they started acting anxious. He stopped then and raised his right hand, palm open, in a warm greeting and smiled at them.
“Hello,” he said. “Welcome aboard the Kali.”
Several of the Gataan soldiers exchanged guttural commands in their own language. It almost seemed to Renwick as though they were arguing over who would take the first shot. He hoped that wasn’t the case. Just as the argument seemed to peak another soldier appeared at the hatch, his uniform much more decorated than the common soldiers. He yelled instructions at the soldiers, waving his arms in disdain at them, and then disappeared back inside the ship.
“I think we’ll have to do our negotiating on board his ship,” said Renwick. True to form two of the tall guards came up and took Renwick and Aybar by the arms and started pushing them towards the frigate.
“Will they take us with them, do you think?” asked Aybar.
“Unlikely,” said Renwick “I’m betting that this decorated man is the ship captain, and probably authorized to negotiate with us. No reason to take us off the Kali.”
Five minutes later they were both secured by metal chains in what looked like a makeshift supply cabinet as the frigate fired its engines to depart the Kali.
“Do you need assistance?” came Yan’s voice over Renwick’s ear com. He could practically hear the sarcasm in her voice.
“Not at the moment captain,” he said. “But I’ll let you know.”
“Very well. Tell your captors that they’re clear for takeoff,” Yan said. Aybar suppressed a laugh at that.
“I’ll pass it along,” Renwick said. Then he looked to Aybar. “Sorry about this,” he said.
“That’s alright,” she said. “As long as you have a plan to get us back.” He looked at her, then yanked on his chains.
“Whatever plans I had just went out the window,” he said.
BY RENWICK’S BEST GUESS the frigate landed on Tarchus Prime about thirty minutes later. He was cognizant of the time as he knew they had precious little of it to prepare for the Soloth fleet. They were taken off the frigate at what looked to be an airbase and placed in the back of an open-air ground car. It was hard to tell whether it was day or night, as the sky seemed to glow a twilight red. The air was thick and heavy with humidity, at least to Renwick. The Gataan didn’t seem to mind it much though.
Another few minutes on the ground and they were passing through a low-lying city that had once obviously been modern and efficient. They sped through rough paved streets that were punctuated by high elevated train tracks, long since abandoned. The air here had a smell to it that indicated heavy industrial use. Groves of trees that looked like palms or some other sort of tropical variety filled the spaces between broken buildings, some of which were of a clearly advanced architecture.
After a few more minutes of this Renwick noticed something else; people were lining the streets. Not all at once, and not in large numbers, but large enough. And they were yelling at them, and occasionally throwing things. At one point Renwick was sure he got spat on. Soon the captain of the frigate stood up at the front of the car and started acknowledging the cheers of the crowd as they went by. He was reveling in the attention. Clearly news of their arrival had got out through some method of modern communication.
They were whisked past the angry throngs and into a guarded building that for all the world looked like a presidential palace on some
backwoods Unity world. Renwick decided then and there that that was how he had to approach their situation. They pulled up to the rear of the palace and then were hustled off the car and onto a low platform that looked like it was used for ceremonial functions. They were surrounded by guards and the frigate captain stood proudly in front of them.
“So we’re his prizes?” asked Aybar.
“Judging from the situation, I’d say yes,” said Renwick. The guards jostled them to discourage them from talking. “Hopefully they don’t practice sentient sacrifice,” he said. This earned him another jostle from the soldiers. Aybar, wisely, said nothing.
A few minutes passed and a dais was set up. Torches were lit and sitting chairs were arranged on the dais. Renwick noted that it had gotten darker. They were now clearly descending into night time.
A few minutes more and what were obviously Gataan dignitaries began to assemble on the dais. The men were almost exclusively in military regalia. Renwick saw females accompanying many of them. He had never seen Gataan females before. They were tall and thin, like the men, with dark, thick stalks of long hair like dreadlocks that flowed back over their heads. The women were fairer-skinned than the men though, and it was obvious even through their clothes that they shared the common physical traits of females of both the Human and Raelen races.
After more delay a large ornate chair was set out and an enormous Gataan male in full military regalia saddled out from inside the building and sat down in it. He was accompanied by two women, one older and more refined, and one younger. They were both beautiful, Renwick thought.
The man gestured from his chair and the frigate captain came forward, talking rapidly in a loud voice in the Gataan language. He was obviously bragging about his accomplishments to the tribal leader. Renwick wondered if he was telling the leader how they had let them land on the deck of the Kali unchallenged. Probably not, he decided. The leader acknowledged the captain with a wave of his hand and then gave some sort of order. Renwick and Aybar were brought forward.
They stood together, their hands still chained. The younger woman, who had been seated to one side of the leader, came forward and spoke to them, surprisingly in Unity Standard.
“You are in the presence of Clan-General Aatar, ruler of the Clans, Commander of the Armies, Supreme Leader of the Gataan,” she said. “You come to our world in the dress of our many enemies. The dress of those who brought the Long Darkness. We demand you tell us why you are here.” Renwick looked to Aybar and then stepped forward. Two soldiers pushed him back into his place.
“It is not necessary to come closer than is required to speak, human,” said the young woman. “Keep you place until ordered to move.” The words contained a threat of violence. These were clearly very angry people, and Renwick wasn’t sure that he blamed them. He cleared his throat before speaking.
“I am Tam Renwick, Senator of the Terran Unity. We come here to your world as friends, not enemies,” he said. “We are here to offer you aid, and ask for your favor.”
“We will decide if you are friends or enemies,” she said. The she turned and conveyed what he had said to the Clan-General. He grunted, then said something back to the young woman.
“Clan-General Aatar asks if you are here to aid the Hi’shoth clan, or the En’obli clan,” said the translator. Renwick looked to Aybar.
“How would you know the difference?” she asked. This time the soldiers left them alone. Apparently now that conversation had begun consultation was allowed.
Renwick shook his head. “I don’t know the difference, but I imagine answering correctly is pretty crucial.”
“You’ve got to take a chance,” she said. He nodded.
“Or answer a question with a question,” he said. He returned his attention to the translator. “Is the Clan-General of the Hi’shoth clan, or the En’obli clan?” he asked.
“You do not know?” she said back, angry. He bowed his head.
“Forgive my ignorance. Humans have not been to your world in many years. But please tell the Clan-General, whichever clan he is the leader of, that is the clan we are here to assist,” Renwick said. The translator eyed him suspiciously, then turned to Clan-General Aatar and spoke in her own language. There was a pause as everyone waited for the Clan-General to respond. Then he started laughing, a deep, guttural laugh. Whether it was humor or disdain Renwick wasn’t sure. After a few moments the others all laughed along with him. Renwick and Aybar both exhaled. Then the Clan-General uttered more words to the translator. She turned to back to Renwick, her tone measured.
“He says the he is En’obli. We are all En’obli here, and if you do not know the difference, then you are indeed a barbarian. He asks what the barbarian has to offer,” she said.
Renwick considered his words carefully before speaking. “Tell the Clan-General that I offer him the chance to vanquish his enemies forever. Tell him that I offer to open the sky to the stars again, and end the Long Darkness. Tell him that I have come on a great quest, and that quest is to save the Gataani people from their many enemies, who are coming here, to this world, very soon,” he said.
The translator turned once more to the Clan-General. Renwick’s words clearly had an effect on him. He spoke again, this time without laughing.
“He says that others came promising to end the Long Darkness. And that they deceived us, and gave our world over to the Hi’shoth clan. We have suffered much under the Hi’shoth, human. He asks why we should trust you,” she said. Renwick swallowed hard, then spread his arms as wide as they would go in the chains.
“Tell the Clan-General that these others are the same enemies we fight, the ones called Soloth and Hi’shoth. And tell him that he cannot trust humans. Tell him that it is we who caused the Long Darkness.”
“Renwick!” said Aybar. The translator looked at him with disdain.
“Are you sure you want me to tell him these things, human? I would not care to see your blood spilled this night,” she said. Renwick kept his gaze steady.
“It is my blood to spill. Now tell him what I have said, word for word,” he said. The translator did as Renwick asked. The Clan-General sat back in his chair, his hands clenching the arms tightly. Then he exploded to his feet, charging Renwick. He towered over Renwick, yelling into his face. The translator stepped closer, but not too close.
“He demands to know the truth of what you speak. And mark my words, human,” she warned, “what you say next may save your life, or end it.”
Renwick looked to Aybar, then to the heavily armed soldiers around them. He decided all he had to offer was the truth. He dipped his head slightly in deference to the Clan-General, then spoke in plain words directly to him.
“The ones who did this to you, to the Gataan, they were dishonorable people, like the Hi’shoth clan. They did not have the approval of the Terran government. What they did was wrong, and I am here to right that wrong, if I can,” he said. The translator spoke the words. Renwick watched as the Clan-General slowly set his anger aside, then spoke in more even tones to the translator as he backed away.
“He asks what you seek in return for these great gifts that you offer,” she said. Renwick exhaled in the heavy air.
“Tell the Clan-General that we need ships. Tell him that we need him to hold off our mutual enemies long enough for us to travel to the place where the Long Darkness started, and end it, forever. Tell him we can make passageways from this world to the other Gataan worlds with our ship, and restore the greatness of the Gataan Empire,” he said. She translated again. The Clan-General issued commands and then Renwick and Aybar were unchained. The courtiers on the dais all scattered as the Clan-General walked back towards the palace. Renwick looked at the translator.
“The Clan-General has ordered our ships to be readied. You may yet have an agreement, human. But first, he insists that we feast,” she said.
“Feast?” said Renwick, rubbing his wrists and walking towards the palace with her and Aybar. “You must tell him, this fleet w
e speak of will be here within hours.” She laughed.
“How little you understand, human. We are always prepared to fight. But the Clan-General will make no pact with you until he has eaten with you. It is his way,” she said. “And on Tarchus, his way is the only way.”
Renwick exchanged a worried look with Aybar as they both followed the translator up the stairs and into the palace of the Clan-General Aatar, Leader of the En’obli.
RENWICK HAD CALLED into Yan before they sat down to the feast. They had less than four hours to secure the help of the Gataan and get their fleet into space. In the meantime, he and Aybar were forced to eat.
The meal was served in courses and Renwick ate something of everything he was given. Some of it was questionable as to the source, but much of it was meat based and at least tasted good. The translator sat on the Clan-General’s right, with his wife, as they had learned the older woman was, on his left. Renwick sat next to the translator, who’s name they had learned was Reya, with Aybar next to him.
Renwick spent a good deal of time bending the ear of Reya, telling her of the issue of time, and the coming danger. The Clan-General brushed these worries off while he ate. Renwick also managed to learn that Reya had been taught Unity Standard as part of her studies on ancient cultures. It was often said in her classes that the humans were merely a myth from long ago, but she had always believed otherwise. Finally the meal was cleared away and the Clan-General returned his attention to Renwick.
“The Clan-General asks when you will begin fulfilling your promises,” she said. Renwick swallowed a bite of cold meat before replying.
“We will take out the Hi’shoth base on the moon of Tarchus as soon as I return to my vessel,” said Renwick. “I take it the Clan-General’s enemies have all fled there?”
“Yes,” said Reya. “Some months ago they abandoned Tarchus for their base colony. The superior ships they had allowed them to control our world. The Hi’shoth are not great in number, but they are very devious.”
