by Chris Fox
"T'kon, will you escort her?" Nolan asked.
"A wise precaution, Captain. Saurians are opportunistic and violent. Seeing an elite there will force them to listen, at the very least. I am fairly certain I can convince them to meet with you."
Chapter 29- Allies
Nolan stepped nervously inside the pavilion. The dirty fabric rippled from the growing winds. Three dozen faces--a mixture of aliens--stared back at him. Most were blue-scaled Saurians, with a few Whalorians mixed in.
"Mmm, will be another storm soon," Aluki cautioned. "A bad one. We should be swift." She waddled toward the middle of the tent, and a pair of Saurians stepped out to greet her. She shifted toward Nolan, beckoning him to join her.
He walked over as casually as he could manage, consciously keeping his hand away from his sidearm. Any one of these people could be a spy, or could decide to kill him for the very thing that had brought them together to listen: the cores.
"This is Nolan. Nolan, this is Sissrot and Sissus. Sissrot is the leader of his people, and I've only just met Sissus." Aluki turned back to the Saurians, delivering an infectious grin. Even the Saurians smiled.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Nolan." Sissrot said, his voice sounding a bit like the low rumble a crocodile made. He clenched his fist over his heart, so Nolan mirrored the gesture. Sissrot waved at his companion. "I believe it is Sissus you have come to speak to, however. Sissus, the time is now. We will never have a better."
The Saurian he'd addressed as Sissus did not look pleased. His reptilian face was more or less emotionless, but still managed to convey distaste. "Very well, elder. The risk is great, but I will do as you ask. I am Sissus, and you are alive because of my actions."
Nolan licked his lips, mentally backpedaling. "I'm not sure I understand."
"Observe, ka'tok." The Saurian closed its eyes, and began a series of shallow, rapid breaths. Its scales rippled, reversing themselves as he watched. The blue changed to red, flowing down the Saurian's body until he'd completely changed. Sissus opened his eyes. "Do you know me now?"
Nolan took an involuntary step backward. "You look just like the Saurian kill team we ran into when we rescued Burke."
"Yes. I sent one pack, instead of all four. I delayed our response, giving you a chance to slip away." The Saurian leaned closer, its breath cold and musky. "Had I come personally, with all my forces, you and your companions would now be dead."
"Why did you let us go?" Nolan asked. He'd thought the escape was a little too easy, and the sudden confirmation was jarring.
"Because you are the knife with which I will kill Krekon," Sissus said. He gave a low, alarming hiss. "I risked much in letting you live, and I'd see that deed repaid. You will provide the opportunity to kill Krekon, sooner or later."
"What do you have in mind?" Nolan asked. Sissrot hadn't spoken, nor had Aluki. But they were watching. Everyone was.
"Nothing, yet. I thought it premature to speak to you, but elder Sissrot insisted. So I have spoken. I do not know how letting you live will lead to Krekon's death, but by the Nameless Ones I will make it so." Sissus turned back to Sissrot. "I have lingered long enough. I must return, or the clutch will question my absence. We cannot risk alerting Krekon, or we will never have the opportunity to strike."
"May you avoid their gaze." Sissrot bowed to Sissus, and the Saurian spy retreated. Sissrot waited for him to depart before continuing. "Excuse his hostility, but I thought it important that you meet him, so you can see that my people have at least some power. We wish to be taken seriously, not treated as ka'tok. As you can see, most of us are armed."
"I promise to take you seriously, Sissrot. Your people will be invaluable in a fight, and my squad will take all the help we can get."
"Is it true that you have some way to combat the elites?" Sissrot gave that croc rumble again. "We are good fighters, but the reason the clutches do not rebel is fear of the elites. We cannot stand against them. That is how they conquered our world in the first place."
"I'm guessing most of you saw the battle when my people arrived," Nolan said. "I have access to a few of the war machines we used to kill elites. We can kill them, with your help."
"Good. Then let us talk about the reason we are willing to aid you." Sissrot watched him with deadly intensity. "Aluki says the unthinkable: that your people posses the ability to manufacture cores."
"She's right," Nolan admitted. "My people do possess that tech." He wasn't high enough rank to divulge state secrets, but cores were hardly state secrets. They were common tech used by two dozen new manufacturing companies. "I can't provide you cores--not yet. We're cut off from our fleet, and until they return we're on our own. But I have a proposition. If you help us when our fleet arrives, I can promise each of you your own core. We can also secure you safe passage off this rock."
The room erupted into shouts. People clapped each other on the back. Many whooped. It was as if they'd all won the lottery and been told they were given immortality at the same time.
Sissrot gave Nolan a respectful bow. "Captain, you have the support of the Sisska clutch."
Chapter 30- Theta Cannons
Fizgig's leg ached, but she ignored the slight limp as she walked down the viewing ramp. Khar walked beside her, studiously ignoring her limp. She in turn ignored the fact that his body was slightly...off. The scientists who'd designed the synthetic fur had done an admirable job, but there was no way to duplicate a proper Tigris scent.
Khar looked as he had--all powerful muscles and long limbs. His golden mane framed his face, and his fangs gleamed under the soft lights. Even his eyes were the same, the slits dilating as he peered through the window at the dry dock.
"An impressive weapon," he rumbled. "The refitting goes swiftly."
"Not swiftly enough," Fizgig countered. Drones swarmed around a human vessel, tiny laser torches affixing the new cannon.
That cannon ran the length of the cruiser, jutting out past the end of the hull. It had a wide bore, though Fizgig had no idea what kind of ordnance it fired. It didn't look like a particle cannon or gauss rifle, and she could think of no other weapon they'd have used.
The welds around the new cannon seemed sound, though the ship wouldn't win any prizes for beauty. In the distance were several other space docks, all bathed in the light of the of white star in the center of the mythical Birthplace.
Its radiance was collected by a massive Dyson Sphere encasing the three artificial worlds the Primo had constructed. That energy was used to stabilize the system, keeping it stationary at the edge of the supermassive blackhole near the galactic core.
The location made the Birthplace nearly impossible to reach, but that was only part of what kept this place safe. Secrecy was an even greater defense, and only a need as urgent as her own would cause Fizgig to risk exposing it.
A pair of human scientists in white coats were approaching. The scientist in the back wore thick glasses, and his head was buried in a datapad. Fizgig dismissed him as an underling. She knew the woman in the lead, who walked with the powerful grace of a warrior despite her academic bearing.
"Kathryn," Khar boomed, sweeping the smaller human into a hug. She squeaked when his grip tightened. "This place you have built is truly marvelous." Finally he set the human down, though she looked a little dazed.
"It's your first time seeing the Birthplace. I'd forgotten." Kathryn straightened her glasses, peering up at Khar. "How's the body working?"
"It is wondrous." Khar clenched and unclenched his hand, grinning broadly. "I feel Tigris, but so much more. I am stronger, faster, and do not need to breathe. Many of my warriors have expressed a desire for similar bodies."
"Trust me, I know." Kathryn rolled her eyes, but the smile was still in place. "We get a barrage of requests every day, but we're not equipped for mass production yet. That body is a prototype, so be careful with it. We don't have replacements lying around. Most of our resources are going to refitting the fleets."
"Which is why we h
ave come. Time is short, and we've no time for pleasantries. What have you made for me, Kathryn?" Fizgig hated how much it relieved her to stop walking.
The human woman looked much the same as when Fizgig had last seen her. A decade had passed for her, while only a year had passed for Fizgig. There were a few more wrinkles on her face, a few grey hairs among the mass of dark curls.
"The weaponry we're attaching is called the theta cannon. We developed it based on the information you passed us about these new aliens. The theta cannon fires a superheated alerium core, surrounded by a nimbus of plasma. Effectively, you are firing small stars at your opponents."
Fizgig began to purr. "And you've constructed enough of these to outfit the 2nd Fleet?"
"We're working as fast as we can, but we only have so much manpower. Or drone power, I guess. We'll need about another week, your time. Then you'll finally have the tools to fight back."
"And this theta cannon will punch through the enemy shields?" Fizgig asked. Her natural skepticism wouldn't be quieted.
"We can't know for sure. The models we're using are based on data you provided. Once you'd used enough firepower, the enemy's shield went down. Temporarily, at least. The theta cannon will deliver approximately three times as much force as the combined assault you used before."
"Impressive, Kathryn. Both Dryker and Nolan would be pleased, I am sure." Fizgig paused, a sudden drawback occurring to her. "The rounds that this fires. How large are they and how many have you produced?"
"That's the part you're not going to like," Kathryn admitted. She tapped her datapad, pursing her lips as she studied some numbers. "We've only made about twenty, and even with an aggressive production schedule we won't have more than three rounds per vessel. The cannons will only fit on a cruiser, destroyer, or capital ship--though we're working on smaller cannons for the frigates and corvettes. Those will take longer to produce."
"That will be enough for a single full engagement," Fizgig mused. "I cannot fight a war, but I could win a battle. An important one."
"What are you thinking?" Kathryn asked.
The pair had never been close, but Fizgig still considered her Nolan's female, despite their forced separation. They were family, in a way.
"Nolan is trapped on the enemy's world. I intend to get him back."
"You left him there?" Kathryn's scent became acrid, and her eyes narrowed. The scientist mask was gone, replaced by the warrior Fizgig knew she was. "He could already be dead."
"Dryker has forbidden me from attempting a rescue until these weapons are ready. His fate is in your hands, Kathryn."
Kathryn's shoulders slumped, and she nodded. "I wish we could speed up the process, but that's just not possible. Nolan will have to hold his own, at least until we can get you your cannons."
Fizgig's comm unit buzzed. She snatched it from her belt, thumbing it awake. "I told you not to bother me during the inspection."
"I know, sir," Juliard said. "But, I think you're going to want to know about this."
"What is it?" she demanded.
"A device appeared on your chair. I was standing right there, and watched the air twist and fold around it. At first we worried it might be a bomb. I called in demolitions, and they confirmed it wasn't. They inspected it and found a dat crystal inside, sir. That's when we called you."
"What does the dat crystal contain?" Fizgig asked.
"We haven't read the contents, but it has Captain Nolan's ident code."
Chapter 31- Are you serious?
"You wanted to talk to me, sir?" Hannan asked. She removed the energy cell from her plasma rifle, checking for bits of rust before snapping it home again. The weapon didn't really need to be checked, but she was nervous about this conversation, and the activity helped.
"I'm guessing you already know what this is about." The way Nolan spoke made it clear he knew that she knew.
"Yeah," Hannan said. "This is about that scrap I had with Burke and Nuchik." She darted a glance to the far side of the garage, where Nuchik sat reading. Burke was nearby, cleaning his weapon. He glanced up at her, eyes hard. "Captain, she spat in Lena's face. That would have been bad if Lena was human, but you know what kind of insult that is to a Tigris."
"Yes, but Nuchik doesn't. She doesn't know anything about them, beyond the fact that Tigris have killed the men fighting beside her. Until the very end of the war with the Void Wraith, the Tigris were the enemy. That's what she sees when she looks at Lena, or the admiral." Nolan rested a hand on Hannan's shoulder, giving her a squeeze. If another officer had done it, she'd have decked them. But Nolan had earned her trust, time and again.
"Captain, she called you an analyst. She called Annie a drunk," Hannan protested. She hated that it sounded petulant. During the moment it had seemed so much more...urgent.
"I am an analyst. I worked in OFI, behind a desk for most of my brief career. My test scores in a mech aren't going to change that. Look at Annie." Nolan nodded in the older woman's direction, nudging Hannan with his elbow. "She's having a drink right now, that green stuff Aluki likes. She still chews tobacco, and avoids words with more than two syllables."
"So you're saying Nuchik is right about us?" Hannan asked, hoping she was wrong.
"Of course not. You know what we did in the war. You know how instrumental we were. We got things done that the 1st could never have accomplished. But I also know what everyone else sees. Burke and Nuchik were drilled to believe they were the best. We look like a ragtag group of misfits. Their reaction isn't surprising."
"So what do we do about it?" Hannan asked, unsure where he was going with this line of logic.
"We ignore it. Burke and Nuchik will follow orders, and that's all that matters. They don't have to like us, and we don't have to like them. Here's the thing, though: if you spend time and energy hating them, that leaves us vulnerable before the real enemy. That's why I work so hard to see things from their point of view. I don't give a shit what they think about us, I've got more important things to think about. Understanding them helps me not care. I get it, and their beliefs are on them, not us."
"Well said, sir." Hannan smiled. She turned to watch Nuchik. The woman brushed scarlet hair from her face, which was illuminated by her data pad. "She's studying the footage from the ambush. Trying to get better. She might be a bitch, but she's a good soldier. I'll focus on that."
Something flashed in the corner of Hannan's vision, and she snapped her rifle to her shoulder. The air popped and spun near the foot of the captain's mech, folding in on itself in a way that made her nauseous.
It was the same warping effect she'd seen when they'd sent the message in a bottle to the admiral. She didn't relax; if anything she grew more tense. Hannan didn't lower her rifle until the effect ended, showing the rusty device they'd sent back to the fleet.
"Looks like Fizgig got the message," the captain said. He knelt next to the device, pulling out the dat crystal. "Let's see what the admiral has to say." Nolan inserted the crystal into his comm, and a hologram sprang up.
Fizgig's tiny form stared up at them. "Nolan, I am pleased that you live. The data you sent has been of great use, and we are creating a plan to retrieve your people. For that plan to succeed you must pave the way."
"Why am I not surprised?" the captain muttered.
Hannan chuckled.
"These planetstriders are formidable. Their weapons can reach orbit, which makes any ships attempting to land a very tempting target. We cannot risk shuttles against that kind of fire power. You must find a way to bypass them and make it to orbit. Failing that, you must disable the planetstriders so that we can attempt a landing." Fizgig hesitated, her holographic tail swishing behind her. "This native, T'kon, seems like an asset, but do not be your usual trusting self. He may betray you. Be prepared, Nolan. When you are ready for your escape, send a signal to the Helios Gate. We will come as swiftly as we are able."
The hologram disappeared. Hannan met the captain's gaze, trying to figure out what he thought
of what he'd just been asked to do. With their limited forces, stopping those monstrosities seemed an impossibility. The Saurians only added a little firepower, and if they confronted a planetstrider they'd all end up dead.
Hannan watched as Nolan removed the chip and put it the neoprene pouch on his belt. He cupped his hands around his mouth. "Burke, T'kon, come over here."
The pair made their way over, Burke wearing his usual distrust, though maybe not so closely as usual. T'kon's face was impassive, his upper nostrils taking long breaths while the lower were closed. His fur was a soft brown, which seemed to be the default when he wasn't doing anything. She wasn't positive how or why his fur changed color, but she was starting to get the idea it had something to do with his emotions.
"We need to plan an assault," Nolan said. "Not just any assault, either. We need to hit all three planetstriders to ensure they can't enter the fray when the fleet comes for us."
T'kon's fur shifted to a bright orange, and he began a whooping laugh. "You don't want to stop just one strider, but all three? At the same time? Captain, I've alluded to the fact that I have seen their defenses. What I neglected to mention was how recent the encounter was. The day you arrived I was trying to disable a strider. I made it to the control room, but barely escaped with my life."
"Are you serious?" Hannan asked. "This just keeps getting better and better. Why not just ask us to kill Takkar while we're at it?"
T'kon shook his head. "You are right to be concerned, but it is not so dire as you fear. I've seen your people. You react quickly, and if one of your installations was assaulted I imagine you'd raise security. Here, things are different. Everything is done by tradition. The number of defenders is prescribed, and while they will have replaced the Saurians I killed, I doubt they will have increased defenses. Not that the existing defenses are not formidable. Still, I do not see how we could assault all three planetstriders with our meager forces."
