"We have to do something more to protect the teams," Sage commented, "which means cutting down the number or bringing in more personnel. Unfortunately fleet has made it clear they have little additional manpower to spare. Most have to be reserved for the final assault."
"There may be another way," Ta commented, and began a long discussion with Jeff. When he finally fully understood what Ta was proposing, Jeff looked at the ground for several seconds, then turned to the others.
"Ta has a very interesting suggestion", Jeff began, "it's risky, but may be worth the gamble. Ta suggests we try to get the aid of the Kraa. He thinks if we can persuade them, the Kraa could discourage the Gath ground patrols."
Adding, with a light laugh, "a Kraa pack or two protecting each of the mapping teams would scare me away. As far as we've seen the patrols are usually about five Gath, which a single pack could handle easily if caught unaware."
And," he added, "Kraa hunting packs could also make the Gath think twice about using small patrols, particularly at night."
Tom looked at him, "could we get them to agree, and if we did, can we trust them?"
Jeff looked at the ground for several moments, frowning, "yes, I think so, if we could get a commitment from Kraa-Ki. They followed the original treaty to the letter, at least until bombarded by the Gath, which they took for a colonist attack. They didn't know about the Gath then, now they do," adding, "and since then appear to have returned to abiding to the original agreement; at least to the extent of leaving the Torgai alone.”
“They could easily have wiped us out if they had wanted, but didn't," adding, "they hate the Gath worse than us. The Gath have been bombarding and killing them indiscriminately at every opportunity for years."
Looking over at Ta, Jeff asked, "could we get them to agree?"
Ta was silent, finally saying, "bring Kraa-Kuk-T. He knows them best; he still talks to them. He understands them."
In a matter of minutes Kraa-Kuk-T arrived and listened carefully to the proposal. "They may agree, but that will be up to Kraa-Ki. I'd have to find her, but if Kraa-Ki gives her word it'll be kept."
Sage had been trying to follow the discussion, not fully understanding the relationship of the various Torgai to the Kraa, or the nature of the Kraa themselves.
Glancing over at Jeff, Sage asked, "aren't the Torgai and the Kraa hereditary enemies?"
Jeff shrugged, "yes. But a strange relationship did develop after the Kraa gained control after year three. They kept many Torgai alive, as you're probably aware, who they used as slaves and breeding stock to obtain young Torgai to be raised by the packs. Ta here was one of those Torgai, and Kraa-Kuk-T was raised by one of the packs. The Torgai raised by the Kraa packs, Kraa-Torgai as we call them, were fully adopted into the packs, and were not only treated as equals, but held a special position.”
Adding after a moment, this wasn't humanitarianism but a thought-out decision to avail themselves of some of the Torgai capabilities they lacked. In fact," Jeff added, "while Kraa often kill other Kraa, killing or injuring a Kraa-Torgai meant death for any Kraa involved. Kraa-Ki herself, or other senior Kraa, would see to it."
"Kraa-Kuk-T is unique in that he is the only one we have who can safely contact the Kraa. He understands their mind, which is even more important. Without him we couldn't communicate with the Kraa at all; even their Kraa-Torgai members speak a composite language. In fact, he was the go-between for the Kraa truce with the second colony."
"Don't assume the Kraa are mere animals," Tom Ford interjected, "savage, yes; operate and hunt like a wolf pack, yes; look about as vicious as you can possibly imagine, yes. When you first see them close-up they’ll send shivers down your spine; but, they are very intelligent. In fact," he added, "the studies show they have brains bigger than we do, and are inherently as intelligent or more intelligent than either us or the Torgai. The only thing they lack is the ability to use tools and record anything but oral history, which is why they stagnated."
Jeff nodded, "we think this is why the Kraa-Torgai were incorporated into the Kraa packs; Kraa-Ki understands their shortcomings, and uses the Torgai to create 'blended' packs to bring in some of the abilities they lack."
But," Jeff added after a pause, "you have to understand what the coming of Kraa-Ki meant. Before her the Kraa were loosely-linked packs that cooperated only for some hunting and during the breeding season. Kraa-Ki changed all that. She is an extraordinary individual. She gained total dominance over all the Kraa, organized them, and her decisions are followed to the letter. Hereditary enemies, yes, but now the Torgai are apparently viewed as 'useful' by Kraa-Ki."
With some trepidation, all agreed to propose to the colonist and fleet leadership that Kraa-Kuk-T contact Kraa-Ki. Sage would have to take care of that.
After the meeting Jeff sat with Sage explaining what to expect if the Kraa agreed to the proposal. While she had seen Kraa in videos, that was a lot different than meeting them face to face. Sage felt nervous about the plan but didn't have a counter proposal. The manpower, both human and Torgai, was too limited to provide the protection needed, and the conquest of the planet had to be completed before Gath reinforcements could arrive from Beta 3. Right now the risk of sending mapping teams to the distant installations was too high.
Several days later . . . .
Kraa-Ki topped the divide, stopped, and gazed down the pass to where it opened up showing the foothills and flat savanna beyond. The rest of her pack dutifully stopped and sat behind her. Further behind, the hundreds of Kraa packs following also slowed, some coming to a halt to rest. Later hundreds of other packs, even now being summoned, would follow across other passes.
A Kraa-Torgai accompanied Kraa-Ki's pack, while Kraa-Kuk-T accompanied the pack that followed right behind, that of Kraa-Kuk. Even now, after so many years, the Kraa still maintained the custom of ages before of packs not mixing except at breeding time. Now, while Kraa-Kuk-T was kept as close to Kraa-Ki as possible, he could only travel either by himself or with his Kraa-Mother's pack; that of Kraa-Kuk.
Here, at the top of the mountain pass, Kraa-Ki would wait with her assembled packs until her message was delivered by Kraa-Kuk-T to the 'flat-faces' below. Only if her terms were met and promised in a 'face-to-face' meeting with the flat-faces would she take their side.
At a call from Kraa-Ki, Kraa-Kuk led her pack around that of Kraa-Ki, all taking a subservient position in a tight group about five meters from Kraa-Ki's band, facing her for their final instructions. After several minutes listening, Kraa-Kuk turned and led her pack at a fast lope down the slope toward the foothills. Kraa-Ki curled herself in a ball on the ground for warmth, her head atop her long neck moving slowly as she watched Kraa-Kuk's pack disappear from view.
Nearly all of the packs were now led by Kraa-Ki's progeny, many inheriting her size and much of her intelligence, but not matching her in willpower. During all her years of leadership she had seen none among the Kraa who could replace her and hold the Kraa together, and her fear was the progress the Kraa had made would be for nothing. They would again disintegrate into individual packs, easy prey for the other races. And she was growing old; she could feel it in her bones. She was over 90 years of age, and had ruled the Kraa for over 50 of those years. Even now some of the pack leaders were eyeing her, noting the grayness of her coat and the slowing of her movements. Soon she would be challenged by one of her many daughters, granddaughters, or great granddaughters, and while she might win, after the first challenge others would follow until she was dead. It was inevitable, it was the way of the Kraa.
Kraa-Ki had decided long ago that the Kraa, even if more numerous, could not hope to destroy either the flat-faces or the newcomers. Both had weapons they could not match, and in time could, if they chose, hunt the Kraa to extermination. It was only a question of how to coexist with such advanced races, and with what race it could be done. She well knew that, even with incorporation of Torgai into the packs, the Kraa were incapable of competing with either species.
Why become allies with the 'flat-faces? Kraa-Ki knew the answer. Because they might let the Kraa live on a part of the land. They had let the Torgai live, in spite of the Torgai killing nearly all the first of the flat-faces, and the Torgai and flat-faces now lived peacefully together. While this meeting was to see if they could form an alliance against the Gath, Kraa-Ki knew she would agree. What she wanted in return was an agreement by the 'flat-faces' to share the land with the Kraa.
Now, when they needed her, might be the only opportunity to reach such an agreement with the flat-faces. Later, if the ‘flat-faces’ won they might not be so amenable to terms.
Late the next day . . . .
Sage, Tom Ford, and Jeff huddled around Sage's radio listening to and contributing to the conference call that had been set up with the colonist’s headquarters on the islands and the fleet leadership on the Stockholm. While only the outline of what Kraa-Ki wanted was available, if an agreement were to be reached it needed concurrence of both the colonists and the relief mission. A distance away Kraa-Kuk and her pack, including Kraa-Kuk-T, lay under a group of trees by themselves, carefully watching.
Sage found it difficult to keep her eyes from the Kraa a short distance away. She had seen videos of them before, but seeing them in person was chilling. They exuded a feeling of savagery, and she found unfathomable how something like that could contain a high intelligence, let alone share the planet. But both Jeff and Tom assured her there was more to them than their appearance. She could well understand how the Gath would 'walk carefully' if being hunted by the Kraa. In fact, it could well end night patrols completely.
By the time a general consensus was arrived at dusk was falling. But time was short, and word was passed on to Kraa-Kuk through Kraa-Kuk-T that they were ready for the meeting with Kraa-Ki the following day. As soon as Kraa-Kuk understood, she and her pack rose and started at a fast lope back up the slope to notify Kraa-Ki, leaving Kraa-Kuk-T to lead the flat-faces to the selected site of the meeting the next morning.
Early the following morning Sage, Tom, and Jeff gathered some provisions and other supplies, and with several Torgai, one shouldering the radio, started up the trail following Kraa-Kuk-T. The meeting was scheduled for noon, and there was little time if they were to arrive on schedule. While the distance itself wasn’t that great, the fact that it was all uphill made it more difficult; and for Sage, with her leg still weak from the wounds suffered in the Gath ambush it was particularly difficult. It was late morning before they arrived at the meeting place and could take the opportunity to rest and eat some of their provisions.
Kraa-Ki had actually arrived earlier in the morning and lay with her pack less than half a kilometer away, watching the group below. She was careful and wanted to be sure there could be no ambush before they met; and to be sure she had sent several packs around past the waiting humans and Torgai to scout the trail further down. There would be no treachery. The Torgai knew the Kraa were there from their keen sense of smell and relayed the information to Jeff, who chose not to mention it to Tom and Sage. Let them rest; nothing was to be gained by making them even more nervous than they already were.
It was nearly noon when Tom shook Sage, who had dozed off, "almost time," he said, "time to set up the radio link."
Sage nodded, rubbing her eyes, and, getting up, went over to where the radio sat on the ground, starting to fiddle with the dials. Soon she had the conference call set up. During her conversation with General Solokov back on the Stockholm, Sage felt the slight pressure on her shoulder, and stopping in mid conversation, looked up to see Jeff standing above her.
Pointing up the slope, he said, "they're here."
Glancing up the trail to the top of the rise Sage saw the first of the Kraa packs coming into view, to be followed by others, then more and more, until the entire hilltop was seemingly blackened by the packs that came in an unending stream, following behind the single pack that was in the lead. Then the packs stopped, with only the one in the lead continuing on toward them.
Sage forgot she had the phone in her hand as she stared at the mass of packs in the distance, then recalling what she had been doing, briefly told General Solokov the meeting was about to start.
Around the table in the control room of the Stockholm Admirals Lundblad and Sixkiller, General Green, and Rocco Petri and one of his aids, sat attentively listening to the speaker. Admiral Sixkiller held the mute button for their end of the conference call. Tom Ford was at the end at the meeting place with the Kraa, and on the islands Kevin Murphy and Colonel Lopez represented the colonists.
As Kraa-Ki's pack approached and stopped about five meters away, Kraa-Kuk-T and the others stood, with Kraa-Kuk-T showing the sign of peace. "Say exactly what you want," he said turning his head to Jeff, "have the woman talk."
Jeff turned to Sage, "it's up to you, Kraa-Ki wants you to say what you want," smiling slightly, "she figures as a woman you must be in charge of our pack."
Sage, taken by surprise, outlined what it was they wanted. For the Kraa to hunt the Gath ground patrols and defend the mapping teams during their survey; explaining the purpose of the mapping teams was to allow them to locate and destroy the Gath installations. Then, once troops were landed, help them hunt down any remaining Gath.
Kraa-Ki said nothing for several minutes, staring at the other group. What they wanted was no surprise; she had been told before by Kraa Kuk. But, after that delay, she stated her demands for a guaranteed homeland east of the mountains where they would be undisturbed. If that were given, she would agree.
There was considerable discussion back and forth on Kraa-Ki's demands, and how far they were willing to go. There was little disagreement on granting the Kraa demand for a guarantee of a homeland, but not her initial demand for all the area east of the mountains. That was unacceptable. Further, all agreed that side-by-side coexistence with the Kraa in a common area, such as the Torgai and colonists currently had, was not workable. Even Kraa-Ki did not want that. She insisted on a dedicated part of the planet.
The counterproposal currently under discussion was that the northern half of the eastern area be left as a Kraa preserve, with the southern half left open to human settlement. The boundary of such an area could be set by natural terrain features, mainly an eastern-flowing river that provided a natural separation. The colonists and fleet representatives insisted this was fair since the eastern area was so much larger than the western.
Eventually Kraa-Ki indicated a willingness to settle for the northern half as long as they would also be given the northern forest region bordering the tundra on the western side as well. While doubt was expressed, this appeared acceptable to Kevin and the colonists, and while Rocco Petri spoke for the civilian side of the fleet operation, he deferred to Kevin. Once the conquest was completed and the Gath threat removed it was understood the planet government would be in the hands of the colonists; and they were the ones who would have to live with any agreement.
The deal was struck, and for the foreseeable future would be honored by the colonists. Once the agreement was reached the details of the Kraa support shifted to Colonel Lopez, Captain Fuller, and General Green. Discussion went on for some time on the number of packs Kraa-Ki could provide, how they would be coordinated, and how they would operate. These details were assigned by Kraa-Ki to Kraa-Kuk, while she herself and her pack turned and climbed up the rise, before stopping near the assembled packs.
Later . . . .
Back at the meeting site the details had been largely worked out, and the participants were ready to start back. Kraa-Ki had removed herself a distance up the slope and was meeting with her packs, passing on final instructions.
Sage could hardly keep her eyes off the masses of Kraa that filled the slope near Kraa-Ki, each distinct pack separated from its neighbor by several meters. Some of the packs had Kraa-Torgai members who would be instrumental in coordinating with the Torgai and humans.
Kraa-Kuk's pack, including for now Kraa-Kuk-T, would
stay with the humans to command the Kraa involved in the operation, with Kraa-Ki herself returning to the eastern side of the mountains. As soon as they knew their orders most of the Kraa packs would start for the savanna to hunt for Gath patrols, while others went to a location near the Torgai village to meet up with and accompany the mapping teams, two packs to support each team.
For the next several hours Sage and Jeff sat with Kraa-Kuk and her pack trying to make her understand what to expect once in Gath occupied territory, and how to avoid detection. Kraa-Kuk had difficulty understanding how, even in the dark, and particularly in the dark, Gath heat sensors could find them even when hidden in the trees. Finally, Kraa-Kuk seemed to follow what was involved. To avoid detection the packs must find shelter below ground at night when in Gath country.
This was not really new to the Kraa, but they had never understood how the flat-faces could find them in the dark, or why normal tree-cover hadn’t given them protection; but they knew that somehow they could. But they long had understood that staying hidden below a large object, such as a rock, or underground, was essential; that was what they had done during the attack on the pass years earlier. While excellent diggers, it had never been their custom to use a shelter unless the weather became extreme; but now that entire way of thinking had to change.
"Never," Jeff stressed to Kraa-Kuk-T, "can they be far from shelter if Gath air patrols were in the area. Either that or they would be killed."
The sun had set before the meeting with Kraa-Kuk ended and packs were dispatched to carry Kraa-Kuk's instructions to the packs that had gone before. All Sage could think of was getting some rest. The time she had spent talking with Kraa-Kuk's pack had caused quite a change in her perceptions. Alien though they were, she had begun to see beyond the initial feeling of revulsion. The very act of carrying on the long discussion had helped.
The Final Act: Book III: The Settlement Chronicals Page 6
