I whispered to Har-Hi, “I have to agree this was a silly hiding place. They will check this place first.”
Har-Hi tapped me on the shoulder and I turned. The mirror above the small wash sink no longer reflected our images. Instead, we could see a mirror image of the small bathroom but without us. We watched as two Ithe in gray coats opened the door, looked into the empty bathroom, left the door open, and we could even see them step out the front door. The old woman closed her flat door and now I noticed that the entire bathroom rotated 180 degrees.
Har-Hi said, “I think this shabby apartment has more than one hidden surprise.”
I agreed, “This is pretty useful if you urgently need a second toilet, too.”
A somewhat taller and younger version of the old woman stood in her small living room. That he was male I only assumed because she called him her son and that she was female was only because she was wearing garments an old woman would wear. Other than those hints, there were no real differences between the two Laurin Oghar. Both their skin was greenish and they had big heads that sat on their shoulders without a visible neck. Like their big Oghar relatives, they had big maws and yellowish tusks piercing their lower lips. Their tusks were of course much smaller than those of full-sized Oghars.
What made them so ugly were the deformed faces and humps that had the appearance of warts. It looked as if the skin was more or less loosely draped over their skulls and was full of wrinkles and flaps. They reminded me of the Yotenen, the disguise Mother Superior had chosen as she helped me to escape the slave pen on Alvor’s Cove. I wondered how the old woman knew that Mother Superior called me Soja and the only explanation was that they knew each other.
The Oghar in the black uniform held out his hand. “I am Cracktik. May I ask you to identify yourself and I insist on Blue-Blue-Red protocol.”
I wondered how this would be possible, but I pressed the biological sensor section that was part of my officer’s implant I had received at the academy. It transmitted a weak trans-dim scatter-pattern message pulse from my CITI with a complicated code sequence that could only be received by military-grade computronics that were linked to MATA HARI the NAVINT AI.
The old visualizer screen switched from the grainy flickering images to a crystal-clear 3D field screen and the typical female computronic voice all Fleet systems had in common said, “Blue-Blue-Red protocol initiated. Correct sequence one received.”
The Oghar chauffeur must have done the same thing as the voice verified receiving sequence two. I swiped my code key against his PDD and he did the same to mine. Only after we also exchanged the basic day code was the procedure complete and he satisfied.
He said, “Captain Olafson, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Lt. Commander Cracktik, NAVINT Section 912. Welcome to NAVINT Field Office Itheamh.”
He gestured to the old woman. “This is Lt. Commander Cracktaand. She really is my mother. I know this is a bit unconventional but things are never as easy and straightforward in the intelligence business as they are in the Fleet.”
I acknowledged his statement with a nod.
He gestured us to find seats and took a cup of tea from his mother then he said, “I am a Laurin Oghar; my parents were domestics of a Drak officer many years ago and while they accompanied him and his household on a trip off-planet, the ship was raided by Togar corsairs. My father did not survive the attack, and we became Togar prisoners. The Togar consider us Laurin too ugly even for soup and sold us to a slaver. We were purchased by a Karthanian slaver alongside several Union citizens. We were set free on Outpost 175. My mother had no place to go; she was an ugly Laurin Oghar with a small child.”
The old woman seamlessly took over the story and her eyes glittered moist. “The Union immigration officers treated us kindly and showed compassion. For the first time in my life, I was treated like a real being. I was asked about my needs, my child received medical care, and no one looked down on us for what we were or how we looked. I was asked for my opinion, my wishes, and when I asked if I could stay, I was not turned away. I received my Union school right there on Outpost 175. There were Togar in my class and Bruth Oghars, a Karthanian, and other former slaves and all were treated equally by a Klackteacher. I learned that I did not have to be a domestic and could become whatever I want to be.”
She looked intensely at me. “I took the 10,000 credits start capital and went straight to Arsenal. I had only one wish and that was to serve the Union and repay them for that kindness. My son and I took this assignment gladly, as Laurin could easily mix and mingle with Drak.”
Her son added, “Now you know how two ugly Laurin Oghar became NAVINT officers and Union citizens. Mother and I have been here for over 15 years now, and I steadily worked my way up and became the chauffeur pilot of the ruling elite. Two years ago, I was picked to be the chauffeur of the First Magistrate, and he trusts me as much as a Drak can. I have no vices, no friends, and no contact to the Ithe. The only thing I do is visit my old mother.
“Not much has happened in those years. I collect information and mother prepares the weekly reports. A lot has changed in the past days, however. The successful uprising of the Instigators and them defeating even the Karthanian war machines made the Drak very nervous. They fear that this might be the end of their reign. They fear the rebels to an extent, but they really fear the Karthanian and what the Bonefaces might do to express their disappointment and to insure their influence.”
He waved at the tele-entertainment device. The images changed and we could see the First Magistrate sitting in the back of a luxury flyer. The angle of the visual was strangely off and appeared as if the visual sensor was mounted to the flyer’s ceiling. We could see the Laurin chauffeur and a second gray-coated Drak sitting next to the Magistrate. The Drak had no rank insignia at all. I recognized the First Magistrate by the big single medal he wore.
Cracktik said, “This is the most feared of all Drak; he stays in the shadows and leads the Secret Police.”
The visuals also had acoustics. The Secret Police Chief said to the First Magistrate. “Your Excellency, I am sure the Instigators around that cursed Togar have outside help. There is no other explanation as to how they managed to disable Karthanian sky eyes and defeat the Ognyx at the battle in Craha. We have very conflicting reports and none are too credible. Some reports claim the Ognyx started fighting each other. Others swear they saw one lifted into the sky only to drop onto another. No one can explain why nine of them flipped and marched against our forces. The reports are, for the most part, utter nonsense, of course, but the fact remains they have been destroyed.”
The Magistrate pulled on his gloves. “Who do you think is helping the rebel scum? There aren’t that many civilizations out there that could defeat Ognyx walkers. The Shiss and the Nul, then there are the always meddling Kermac. Of course, the Union could defeat a planet full of Ognyx and there are the Togar.”
The Secret Police Chief opened a briefcase and pulled out a plastic sheet. “We are too far from Shiss territory and, if we can believe this Intel report I received from Karthania, then they have other problems than a little planet like us. According to this rumor, the Nul have come to an agreement with the Union and some say they have become allies and even joined the Union.”
The Magistrate took the film sheet and glanced at it. “What utter nonsense. I am truly not an expert in those things but everyone knows the Nul and the Union will eventually go to war against each other. The Nul trust no one, ever since the Shiss betrayed them and the war-mongering Union is only waiting for an excuse to go to war.”
“Your Excellency, I know it sounds very unlikely but I would not dismiss these reports. I have independent reports overhearing Union freighter captains in the foreigner district bars at the spaceport that collaborate this report. Even if the Nul and the Union simply sign some non-aggression pact then this is very bad news for the Shiss. I must remind you, we also believed the report that the Golden are Union now was pure nonsense and yet the Golden O
utpost here is now officially a Union trading center complete with one of their fabulous GalNet terminals.”
The secret police chief was unfazed and pulled another sheet. “As much as our Masters in the Sky are big and mighty to us, the Karthanian are but a speck to both the Galactic Council and the Union. There are no indications of Kermac or Galactic Union activity in this region. Their spheres of influence are far away from this sector of space. The Kermac are way too busy dealing with a Union which is growing in leaps and bounds. I am sure they would be interested if our Bonefaced friends finally get to blows with the Togar. But it is more likely that they interfere on behalf of the Karthanian, as the Togar hate the Kermac as much as the Union does. What we do with the Ithe is what the Kermac do for millennia with their Thrall species; I doubt they would interfere on a world as unimportant as Itheamh.”
Again, the Magistrate took the page. This time, he did not crush it and glanced at it. He then said, “That leaves us with what?”
The Secret Police Chief said, “It leaves us with the Union and the Togar. Neither the Oghar nor the Dai, who are also powerful forces in this region, have ever interfered in such a way. The Dai are firmly allied with our Masters, and the Oghar don’t do anything unless they get paid for it. Then they do it directly and with open force.”
The Magistrate kept looking at the plastic sheet. “The Union was here on official business four years ago. They could have interfered back then, but they left. Their own laws prevented them from taking the plea of the rebels back then. The Union considers us, the Drak, the legitimate official voice of Itheamh. Unless we go to them, this world is as unimportant to them as a speck of dust. Their corporations do good business with our Karthanian overlords and losing Itheamh as trade port would cut their profits.”
The Police Chief agreed. “The Union is the least likely source for help. They consider themselves the good ones and are strict sticklers to their own laws. I think it is the Togar, and this Ninety is not a slave but a Togar agent. Those cats itch for a fight against Karthania and the sooner the better, as the Togar fear that the Karthanian will eventually outrun them in terms of technology.”
The Magistrate rubbed his stalk eyes. “That leaves us in between; our overlords will not permit this world to fall under Togar control.”
With measured moves, the Police Chief pulled a third plastic sheet from his briefcase. “This is my greatest concern, Your Excellency. I have direct word from the Guild Assembly at Karthania. The Guild Masters want to send Oghar troops to pacify the entire planet and restore order. This time, enslaving all Ithe and all Drak and putting an Oghar military tribunal in charge as they have done on Moghd, a world quite similar to our planet and also one of their outlet and contact worlds.”
Har-Hi and I watched silently as the leader of this world asked his police chief, “How long do we have until the Oghar troops arrive?”
The police chief said, “I am not sure, but when they arrive, you and I are no longer needed. The Ithe and the Drak that survive will all become little more than slaves.”
The Magistrate put on his hat. “The last word has not been spoken. The puppet is about to cut the strings, and we will show the Instigators and the Karthanians that we Drak are the masters of this world after all.”
The recording stopped.
The Oghar woman added, “We don’t have very reliable intelligence assets inside Karthania but my Oghar sources say the Karthanians have secured the services of King Fithark of the Orkh-Oghar. King Fithark rules over the largest and most advanced Oghar kingdom outside of those that are Union now. They are most closely related to your Oromals, the big ones.”
Har-Hi said to me, “Seven to eight feet tall, almost as strong as our Pertharians, tough enough to go toe-to-toe with a Nul if necessary, very well-trained mercenaries who take their reputation and soldiering very seriously. Their training is second only to Union marines. Mercy and restraint are unknown to them and they approach Tech Level Seven in many areas, especially weapons.”
The old woman continued, “Rumors have it, the Karthanians paid for five regiments. That’s 1,000 Orkhs each, in full battle gear. We are almost certain five regiment ships left Ooh Planet yesterday. So, we estimate them to arrive in 10 or 12 days. Depending how active the Togar are, forcing them to take a longer route.”
While I was listening and processing the information with all the attention I could muster, I wanted to scratch an itch on my nose so bad and silently cursed the mass of Bioflex syntho flesh before my face. “Hmmm, five troop ships, you say. Filled with vicious warriors. Maybe we can intercept them before they become a problem here.”
The chauffeur said, “This is not all the news I have for you, captain, as this is what the Karthanian plan to do; the Drak also have plans of their own. They do not want to go without a fight. They see their star fading fast.” He gestured toward the tele-entertainment device and a new recording was shown. We could see the two Drak from before enter the flyer limousine.
The Magistrate leaned forward. “Cracktik, take us to the People’s Palace and take the scenic route.”
We could hear Cracktik respond and the flyer taking off. The Police Chief gestured toward the driver. “Over two years, I am trying to find anything on this ugly Oghar and yet all my efforts show him to be utmost loyal and most of all silent. He does not talk to anyone, doesn’t go to bars, and does not socialize much with others. I wish I had a man so trustworthy in my employment, but I still think we should close the screen.”
A transparent divider slid into place, but the audio-visual bug was still in the same compartment with the two Drak.
The Secret Police Chief shifted his position and looked at the Magistrate. “I know we are in a serious situation, but do you really think we should consider this?”
The Magistrate also shifted his position. “What else is there? The Ancient Terror will cost our lives and our souls; it might cost the lives of millions but it will confirm Drak rule. That is the agreement.”
“You know me as the most ardent defender of our ways and yet even I shiver and fear the consequences. We do not know what it will really do, what it really is. We could simply leave, you know. I have a shipload of polo coins and several thousand tons of crystal. A fortune in any place, and I know you have a treasure more than equal.”
“And where would you go? Karthania does not allow strangers, not even as their puppets. The Togar will have a feast on our flesh and take our polos.”
“The Union; we could go there.”
“Crystal has not much value there and I know there are Ithe who live free in the Union. They hunt us for what we have done. No old friend. I am the Magistrate and this is my world. I am the law, and I say who dies and who lives here! We have a terror, a weapon at our disposal that will consume all that stands against us and I will use it!”
Again, the recording stopped and the NAVINT spy said, “The Magistrate has spoken about an ancient terror before, something he believes will secure their victory, but at the cost of thousands of souls, including his.”
The Oghar commander spread his hands. “Captain, I am a trained Union intelligence officer and I do not believe in the supernatural, but the way he speaks about it, makes it sound like a demon or something like that.”
Har-Hi glanced at me from the side. “We Dai are more superstitious, and I am not so easily dismissing the supernatural. I have seen strange and weird things, but I, too, am a Union officer and I am certain it can all be rationally explained and always has a scientific base.”
I leaned forward. “We still need to know what it is. I remember the bugs and those face-hugging bat worms, and I fought something called a Shogotrz. I don’t think whatever it is he is talking about will stop the changes that will happen.”
Har-Hi asked, “Do you know what weapons were used to make the first planet inhospitable? The Drak destroyed their world. Could he not talk about a cache of whatever it was they used then?”
The old female Oghar rubbed her l
antern jar. “No one really knows. Some say it was dirty atomic weapons. You know, the old kind that leave a lot of radiation for a very long time. Other sources say it was a biological weapon, a virus or bacteria, and some claim it was a combination of both. We do know it was the Karthanians who gave them whatever it was, out of two reasons, to force the Drak of their home world so they could mine it and to create the horrible conditions on Ithe so their help would be accepted.”
I said, “Whatever it is, we better find out. Neither biological weapons nor radiation could hurt us, but to an unshielded population—”
The chauffeur said, “I am taking the Magistrate there tomorrow. Wherever that is, as I never get the travel plans prior to departure.”
This time, I cursed loudly. “I want to be on my way to the Smelter Moons by tomorrow.”
Har-Hi said, “Well, that means you can’t be everywhere and have to trust your crew. Why don’t you and Narth tackle the Moons and have me, Shea, and the others take on whatever the Magistrate is hiding. Whatever it is, I doubt there is anything your crew can’t handle.”
An electronic sound came from the chauffeur’s body, and he pulled a boxy-looking device and said into it, “Cracktik here.”
A voice said, “His Excellency will not need you today anymore and said you may stay with your mother, if you wish. We will pick you up in the morning.”
He acknowledged and pocketed the device again. Then he said, “It seems I have a little more time. So, I can show you our actual Intel HQ.”
I said, “But we don’t have all that much time. I still need to reconnoiter the spaceport and find out where the prisoners are kept that are to be shipped to the Smelter Moons. I have a lot of things to organize and finally, I want to get out of this get-up. I don’t mind costumes, but I really need to blow my nose!”
They both laughed and he said, “Just follow me and you can do just that. We can check out the spaceport much easier from here.”
Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 7 Page 146
