The scorpion lieutenant disconnected. Buried deep inside Asteroid XYP were scorpion nukes. “If the spiders will not release my mates, they will pay!” said the lieutenant, as he burrowed toward the nukes.
* * * * *
Major Lopez soon landed on Asteroid XYP in a salvage craft, ostensibly to recover equipment from the Moon Demon. When he could not find the scorpion, he left commandos to set up an observation post. He flew to the Arthropodan POW camp on the other side of XYP to negotiate at least a limited release of prisoners. The camp commander was polite but claimed he had no authority to release POWs.
“Sick and wounded scorpion POW’s are a burden to you,” argued Major Lopez, reasonably. “Surely you do not want to be responsible for their medical care if you don’t have to. Legion shuttles are available to transport them to New Colorado where scorpion doctors can attend to them.”
“We have adequate scorpion medical personnel right here in our camp,” responded the camp commander. “I appreciate your offer, but it is not necessary.”
“Releasing a few injured scorpions would be a sign of negotiating in good faith,” replied Major Lopez. “What harm could come from that?”
“I am not authorized to release anyone,” said the camp commander. “Sorry.”
A bright intense light flashed from the direction of the spider spaceport. The camp commander radioed to the spaceport for information, but there was no answer. However, a shuttle in orbit reported that the spaceport had just been destroyed by a nuclear explosion. As the camp commander received more updates, several more nuclear blasts occurred.
The POWs rioted. They smashed down fences, burned buildings, and attacked spider guards. Many ran to the forest to freedom or escaped through tunnels. Tens of thousands of scorpions ran in every direction during the chaos. Spider marines retreated to their bunkers, more concerned about nuclear attack than about the POWs. However, they soon regrouped and began hunting and shooting scorpions. The scorpion lieutenant radioed the camp commander on the spider command frequency. “I have thirty more nukes buried under your current positions,” warned the scorpion lieutenant. “Surrender at once, or I will explode them all. You have five minutes to decide.”
“Who is this?” asked the camp commander. “Someone you failed to capture your first time here,” replied the scorpion lieutenant. “You now have four minutes.” “Don’t you realize you jeopardize your own scorpions by exploding nukes?” asked the camp commander. “Surrender,” advised Major Lopez. ‘I will negotiate your release later.” “No!” said the camp commander. “I am not authorized to surrender the whole asteroid.” “Three minutes!” “Are you authorized to just let us all get killed?” asked Major Lopez. “I do not want to die with you!” “Two minutes!” Major Lopez grabbed the radio microphone away from the camp commander. “We surrender,” he broadcast to all. “You can’t do that!” said the camp commander, trying to wrestle the microphone back from Lopez. “I’ll bomb those scorpions from space when we get out of this!”
“One minute!” “Do something!” shouted Lopez, as he lost the microphone back to the camp commander. “You need to buy us some time!” “One half minute!” “The Space Fleet Commander just ordered us not to surrender under any circumstances,” added an aide. “Seven and one half seconds! I will roast all of you!” “This fellow is not stable!” said Major Lopez. “He’s suicidal. He will kill us all!” “I surrender!” said the camp commander. “Do not explode any more nukes. I am releasing all POWs.” “Legion shuttles will transport all POWs to New Colorado,” offered Major Lopez, talking on another radio. “We can begin at once.” “Agreed,” replied the scorpion lieutenant. “Do not attempt to double-cross me. I will be holding many hostages until we are safely away.”
Chapter 10
Star-Sting entered the Elections Department of the Federal Building in New Phoenix, asking for election forms. “I want to run for Colonial Representative to Congress,” he announced to stunned elections workers.
“But you are a scorpion,” replied a clerk. “There aren’t even any spiders in Congress, and they’ve been around a lot longer.”
“My district has almost a million scorpion citizens in it,” responded Star-Sting. “Who do you think they will vote for?”
“I see your point,” answered the clerk, handing over the necessary federal forms. “I assume most of your scorpions are registered voters?”
“I will make sure of that during the campaign,” promised Star-Sting. “How much does a Congressman get paid?” “Only about four hundred thousand dollars,” said the clerk. “Plus lobbyist money and all you can steal and extort.” “And how much would that be?” asked Star-Sting. “Not that much during your first term,” replied the clerk. “But if you are reelected, it could be millions. Seniority means everything.”
“I think you are cynical,” said Star-Sting. “I intend to represent my district honorably and with only the best interests of my constituents in mind.”
“Sure,” said the clerk. “What party will you run under?” “Who holds the majority in Congress now?” asked Star-Sting. “That would be the Republican Party,” said the clerk. “Good,” said Star-Sting. “I am already a registered Republican. I will run as a Republican.” “Good choice,” said the clerk. “The GOP has always been strong on national security issues. I imagine that should be important to you legionnaires.”
“Whatever,” said Star-Sting. “I plan on expressing my concerns during the campaign about the spider menace on our frontier.”
“Just be wary of all the mud-slinging that can happen during a campaign,” warned the clerk. “You being a scorpion and new to human politics, you’re probably not aware of how scandal can ruin a good politician. You don’t have any skeletons in your closet do you? That would be bad.”
“I should get rid of my skeletons?” asked Star-Sting, startled. “Thank you for your advice and warning.”
* * * * *
Large scorpion crowds greeted the shuttles returning from Asteroid XYP. Each repatriated POW got a hero’s welcome. Star-Sting addressed a huge crowd in the stadium at Scorpion City. “Our tireless efforts on behalf of the MIAs have finally come to fruition!” Star-Sting began. “Our heroes have joined us here on New Colorado. Our mates are back. The greatest hero of all is our very own undefeated lieutenant who defied all odds to rescue our MIAs.”
The crowd cheered wildly as the lieutenant stepped up to the podium. He let the crowd cheer a few minutes before finally raising a claw. “I just did my duty,” said the lieutenant, glancing at Star-Sting and frowning. “Unlike our Supreme Fleet Commander, who led our star ships to slaughter, and the rest of you to humiliating surrender. His incompetence left us stranded on New Colorado, rather than ruling the planet. Are you better off now, under the heel of the Legion and still threatened with extinction by the spiders? Our old commander commanded the most powerful space fleet the galaxy has even known, and he wasted it! I see now he wears the uniform of a Legion private. See! Even the Legion has no faith in his leadership!”
Star-Sting lunged at the young lieutenant, striking with his claw. The lieutenant blocked the blow. Their stingers darted back and forth, striking glancing blows off their front armor. The lieutenant pointed at Star-Sting in accusation and shouted, “Now I hear our fearless commander has taken a human name and is running for election to the humans’ Royal Court! He thinks our leaders should be elected? Of course he does, because he cannot earn rank by deeds. Okay, if we must live under human rule, I can adapt. I will run for election against this incompetent coward! Personally, I think he should be thrown in a pit of spikes!”
The crowd cheered. Star-Sting, sensing he was losing the mob, fought back. “You cannot run for Congress! You aren’t even a citizen!”
“Our old commander learns the tricks of politicians quickly,” remarked the lieutenant, pandering to the crowd. “Already he seeks to dismiss me, based on a technicality. And he seeks to dismiss your opinion as meaningless, based on the s
ame technicality! Isn’t King’s Court backroom politics one of the reasons we left to colonize space? Now our old commander shows he is cut form the same old cloth.”
The crowd booed and pressed in on the stage. Sentiment shifted overwhelmingly to the lieutenant. It would take a miracle to get it back, but Star-Sting wasn’t going to give up just yet. “I led most of you to New Colorado in good faith to find a prosperous new life,” said Star-Sting. “You have now found that prosperity. I forced the humans to settle us on the best virgin land on the planet and grant citizenship. Jellystone National Park is perfect for us. I gave everyone with me all this prime land for free. I have negotiated oil royalties with Exxon Corporation that will make us all rich Americans. We will be the princes of New Colorado. But now, this discontented newcomer and a few disgruntled friends want to jeopardize all you have earned. They want to take it away from you for their own! I will not let them do it!”
Most of the crowd now cheered their old commander. Many separated from the new arrivals. The outnumbered newcomers shrank back into small groups. A few claws snapped back and forth between separating groups. Star-Sting had the crowd back for good, now.
The lieutenant did not give up. He made an election filing. However, he made the novice mistake of registering as a Democrat. His scorpion followers also registered as Democrats. General Daly immediately filed a temporary injunction on behalf of the Legion, claiming that granting citizenship to that many registered Democrats at once would raise serious national security concerns. Judge J. Tanner agreed, citing Old California and Old Florida case law, and delayed the next citizenship swearing-in ceremony until well after the election. Star-Sting was elected by a wide margin. It did not help the lieutenant’s cause when he was jailed for contempt of court for giving Judge Tanner the now popular ‘up yours’ arm-fist gesture in open court.
Chapter 11
The stealth starship Shenandoah beamed into orbit around the scorpion home world. City lights of a large industrialized civilization could be seen below on the planet’s dark side. Most noticeable was the huge spaceport and spaceship-building facility in orbit. The metal platform stretched for miles, populated with numerous docked starships in various stages of completion. Most of the starships were frigates, bristling with armament. A new armada was being built.
The Shenandoah fired a full spread of nuclear-tipped missiles at the vast facility. The mega structure and its docked spaceships were torn apart by nuclear explosions, creating a permanent ring of space debris around the planet. Huge chunks of metal rained down on the scorpion home world, causing a spectacular light show in the atmosphere.
Planetary defenses soon located the Shenandoah and fired missiles, but the Legion craft quickly beamed out of orbit – not before leaving a communications satellite to broadcast a message from humanity to the King of the scorpion home world. ‘My name is General Daly of the United States Galactic Federation. Many of your kind have joined the USGF and live peacefully among us. Those newcomers have been granted citizenship. Those who opposed us died. I have enclosed images showing what happened to your invasion fleet. Your reign of conquest is over. Your civilization can join the galactic community of nations and behave in a respectful and responsible manner, or you will be destroyed. You decide. Soon we will send an ambassador to establish diplomatic relations. Personally, I do not like you scorpions much, and hope you tell us to go to hell. I think the galaxy would be better off without you and your ilk. I believe you to be guilty of crimes against the galaxy. However, my President has ordered me to at least make a good-faith attempt at meaningful first contact.’
* * * * *
The Scorpion King and his Court reviewed General Daly’s message. There was a long silence afterward. Frightened, no one wanted to incur the King’s wrath. Finally one of the generals spoke up. “They attack our space docks, then lecture us about crimes against the galaxy!” fumed the general. “Those arrogant humans need to be taught a lesson.”
“Is that the consensus of my Court?” asked the King. “Should my kingdom go to war?”
“Most certainly,” replied the general.
“Most certainly not!” said a captain, one of the general’s staff. “I mean no disrespect, but it is too late to go to war. Our capability for adventurism has been destroyed. The humans begin negotiations from a position of strength we cannot challenge. In fact, we are lucky the humans are willing to negotiate at all.”
“You are not on my staff to criticize, nor to butt in,” admonished the general. “You are here to analyze communications data.”
“I am a military officer, and I only point out the obvious,” responded the captain, curtly. He detested his incompetent superiors, but knew he should tread lightly. “Poor intelligence allowed a crippling attack on our space docks by a solitary warship. What if the humans had attacked with their entire fleet?”
“Maybe that one ship was all they had available,” speculated the general.
“A solitary ship did not destroy our invasion fleet,” countered the captain. “Communications intercepts indicate the humans may be allied with several empires, and have many fleets at their disposal.”
“Why do we not have powerful allies?” asked the Scorpion King. “We need to build strong alliances, too.”
“Because we keep eating our neighbors,” answered the captain, exasperated even more at his dumb King. “That is a practice we need to stop.”
“The Mantidae would not have been helpful as allies,” insisted the general. The mere mention of Mantidae made him hungry and put him in a festive holiday mood. “They were too backward.”
“The sheer number of Mantidae would have been a useful asset,” explained the captain. “The Mantidae were a clever species. We could have brought them up to speed. They would have been a powerful ally to be used to replace our losses.”
“But they tasted so good,” the Scorpion King said, chuckling.
“Have you not been paying attention?” asked the captain, quickly adding, “Your Majesty?”
“Keep a civil tongue about you, or I will rip it out,” warned the Scorpion King. “I have been listening to every word. Do you have anything else to add?”
“I have tech teams studying the humans’ satellite,” said the captain. “We have accessed their computers and their World Wide Data Base. I believe this important coup was not anticipated by the humans. The intelligence we gathered about the humans and their allies will be invaluable during negotiations.”
“We have yet decided to negotiate,” said the general.
“Only an incompetent fool would refuse to negotiate!” fumed the captain, dangerously losing his temper. “Our military situation sucks.”
“I see you do not think much of our military capacities,” said the Scorpion King. “Or perhaps not my generals, either. But we have a vast military and manufacturing base spread out across our many planetary colonies. Surely we are not completely defenseless.”
“We are worse than defenseless,” argued the captain. “Everything from the military to the economy is micro-managed and controlled from a central point. Cut off your royal head, and the whole kingdom flounders.”
“How dare you speak of cutting of our sovereign’s head,” said the general, drawing his pistol. “You are under arrest.”
“That is not necessary,” said the Scorpion King. “I will decide who needs to be arrested. I need competent advisers close to me. It is you who is a bungling idiot!”
“But, Your Majesty, I am completely loyal,” insisted the general, dropping to his knees.
“A lot of good that does me!” said the Scorpion King. “Parts from my space docks are still dropping from the sky, and it is your fault!”
“That attack could not have been anticipated,” insisted the general.
“Precautions could have been taken,” interjected the captain. His mandibles twitched in disdain.
“I have made my decision,” announced the Scorpion King. “Gener
al, you will gather our scattered defense forces and form a new space fleet. You will form an attack plan, should negotiations go poorly. But we will seek to establish diplomatic relations with the humans and their allies. We will exchange ambassadors and allow an embassy to be built in our capital. By Royal Edict I prohibit any and all eating of our neighbors – except Mantidae. All first-contact episodes are to be of a positive and friendly nature. I want allies! These humans are dangerous, and I want a backup plan for fighting them!”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” replied all present.
“Captain, I have a special job for you,” added the Scorpion King. “I have heard rumors there might still be Mantidae hiding in the hills of my game preserve. If so, find them and repatriate the Mantidae back to their home planet with my apologies for eating most of their species and destroying their civilization. Perhaps some minor restitution can be made. Any Questions? Make it happen!”
* * * * *
“The Joint Chiefs of Staff and the President himself have noticed your exploits, Czerinski,” announced General Daly. “Unfortunately, instead of busting you back down to private, they want me to groom you for Brigadier. What do you think of that?”
“I’m flattered,” I replied. “But I’ll do my own personal grooming, if you don’t mind.”
“I am appointing you to be the first Ambassador to the Scorpion Kingdom,” said General Daly. “The President thinks it will look good on your résumé.”
“Still being alive looks even better on my résumé,” I countered. “Forget it. I’m comfortable here.”
“You have more experience with aliens than anyone else,” said General Daly. “That means you got volunteered, whether you want to be ambassador or not.”
Allies Page 8
