by Karl Morgan
Dave asked Jake if the different maklan planets had any communication among them. He told them some did at first, but over the generations, the great distances made it more difficult to connect, and most became isolated. Jake told them about one colony that moved to a more Earth-like world on the opposite side of what is now Greater Gallia. Over the millennia, those maklans devolved into more animal like creatures and were no longer able to fly or communicate telepathically. The rumors on No-Makla were that those creatures had become warlike and their telepathic ability had morphed into the ability to control other creature’s minds. He said their new home world was called Predax, and they had gained control over several other planets by controlling the minds of their leaders. They were to be avoided at all costs.
Jake told them his species had lived in Earth’s solar system for a billion years. From the original ten million souls that jumped from Ai-Makla, there were now forty billion maklans living on Neptune, and another one hundred million on Uranus. Fewer maklans chose Uranus due to its tilted axis, which made one side face the sun continually. It was always day or night there, depending on which hemisphere one would live. Most of the residents lived along the equator where the slight axis tilt away from ninety degrees allowed for some normalcy. There had been colonies on all of the planets from time to time, except Mercury and Venus, which were too inhospitable. When they discovered life blooming on Earth, they closed the colonies there and relocated their people to Mars. The colony on Mars was the largest in the system between one billion and five hundred million years ago. Over time, the atmosphere was thinning due to the small planet size. That led to increasing radiation from the sun. Those colonies were then abandoned, and virtually all maklans moved to Neptune. They chose not to develop Jupiter or Saturn for the same reason they abandoned Earth. They did not want to interfere with the indigenous life.
About one million years ago, the great maklan scientist, Arinofalez Zionaster developed the tools to allow maklans to jump through space or time without a portal. All maklans were implanted with the device to enable space jumping at birth. Temporal jumping was tightly restricted, due to the risk of distorting the time continuum. Any trained individual could jump to any planet in the solar system. If they formed a circle of ten or more, the group could jump up to twenty light years. That was why Jake was trapped here with the rest of the Dawners. He needed a portal or more maklans to get back home.
On the evening of the last night of the storm, Corrine and Horace made a feast for Dave and Jake. Dave had found a case of Scotch whisky from Earth buried among the supplies, and opened a couple of bottles to go with the food. They all sat together laughing and enjoying each other’s company, grateful to be getting out of that room when the storm cleared sometime during the night. Jake had his tendrils touching the others so that he could speak with them. He knew he needed to eat, but the human food was not appetizing. He extended another tendril into one of the Scotch bottles and tasted it. “Dave, this whisky is great!” Jake exclaimed, “I’ve never tasted anything like this before. You said this is a fermented mash from a place called Scotland on your home world?”
Dave was feeling the heat in his face from the drink as well. “Jake, this is some of the best hooch my planet has to offer. Let’s all have another drink!” he replied.
“Hey guys,” Jake slurred into their minds, “Let me try something.” He withdrew his tendrils from the others. “Can you hear me?” he asked.
Dave said, “Yes, I hear you Jake.” The others said they could hear him too. “This is great. How did that happen?”
“Dave, we’ve spent a lot of time connected to each other over the past couple of days,” Jake began. “I’m thinking that our link has become strong enough that I don’t need the tendrils anymore. I don’t know over what distance we can communicate, but I can’t wait to find out.” They all laughed and drank more, until the second bottle was empty. Everyone was too tired and drunk to clean up after the meal. They all went to their respective beds and collapsed.
Dave was having a terrible night. Too much food and drink made him uneasy and he tossed and turned for what seemed like hours before falling asleep. He felt like he had been sleeping for only a minute when he heard Jake’s voice in his head. “Dave, it’s Jake. Please wake up,” the voice said. Dave opened his eyes and looked around the dark room. He could not see Jake anywhere. He looked at his watch and it read 0700 hours. He had been sleeping seven hours, but needed a lot more. “Dave, wake up!” Jake shouted into his brain.
Dave thought, “Okay, Jake, I’m awake. Where are you?”
Jake thought, “Dave, I’m on your ship, the Ticonderoga. When the storm cleared, I could sense fifteen other maklans on your ship. I talked to them and they helped me jump up here. We are all going to jump back to No-Makla. There are enough of us to do that now.”
“Jake,” Dave thought, “I need you to go to Io with me. I told you that we need to find a way to open communications between the maklans and the Galliceans. You are the key, Jake. You’ve already figured out how to talk to humans. You can work with my son, Bill and his team to get this thing done on time. Don’t let me down, Jake!”
“Dave,” Jake said, “I will be there in three or four Earth days at the very latest. You told me the Gallicean fleet might attack my planet. I need to check on my family and talk to our High Council and get things moving. Dave, I haven’t seen my wife in over two hundred years. Give me those few days. It will take you most of one day to get to Far Sky to be able to jump to Io yourself. Have faith, friend, I will be there.”
“Okay Jake. I trust you. You did save my life after I was shot. I owe you this and a lot more,” Dave replied.
“Thanks Dave,” Jake said. “I will be there. I’ve already been talking to the team on your ship about the situation, and we’re getting lots of good ideas. Dave, we’re jumping in a few seconds. You won’t be able to communicate with me from twenty light years away. Hopefully, when you get to Io, I can reach you telepathically. Thanks for rescuing me from Horace and giving us time to stop this war.”
Dave rolled over listening to the pounding in his head. A tone sounded in his earpiece. “Dave, where the heck have you been,” Charlie said. “We’ve been going crazy since we lost contact with you up here. Are you okay? We’re reading your signal and you are a hundred miles from New Dublin. Should we send a shuttle?”
Dave smiled and said, “Charlie, I could sure use a coffee right about now. Too much Scotch last night. I am fine and am with Corrine Baker and her great grandfather, Horace Hildebrand. His secret place is an old terraforming supply dump. There are lots of good supplies we can use down here. Send two shuttles to my coordinates, and be sure to send armed guards. There are lots of bandits down here. I was even shot by one.”
“Are you okay, Dave? Did someone take out the bullet?” Charlie asked.
“I’m fine now Charlie,” he replied. “But you won’t believe it. The answer to all my problems showed up here, cured my arm, and will likely bring peace to the galaxy for the next thousand years.”
“Are you still drunk, man?” Charlie asked.
“No, but I am hung over,” Dave said. “Please get those shuttles on the way soon, and ask someone to bring me a cappuccino and chocolate croissant.”
Charlie laughed. “I’ll bring it myself Admiral!”
Chapter 27
The Dar-Fa and her fleet had been traveling for weeks in the void between Gallicean and human space and now found themselves approaching the edge of human controlled region. Ka-a-Fa was not looking forward to this. The Chiefs of Staff had not given him any advice on how to convince the humans that his ten star cruisers were just on a pleasure trip and needed access to the Earth star system. Any time now, the humans would identify their approach and hail them.
As if on cue, Ne-o-Ka, the communications officer said, “Commodore, I have an incoming signal from the human star cruiser Resolute. Should I put it on speaker?’
“Yes, Ne-o-Ka, let’s hear
what they have to say,” he replied.
The translated human voice said, “Greetings Gallicean fleet. I am Captain Willow Westerman of the Resolute. As you are no doubt aware, your ships are on a course to enter our space in the next half hour. What is the nature of your business in this region?”
The bridge crew all looked at the commodore, wondering what he would say. He was wondering the same thing. He sat quietly for a moment, and then began, “Captain Westerman, I am Commodore Ka-a-Fa of the Gallicean fleet. We are on a mission to patrol the planets in the Earth star system that your gracious civilization has granted to us. Our great general, Fa-a-Di has requested that we bring a large contingent of scientific specialists and their equipment to expedite our exploration. The ships in my fleet were the only ones available for this mission.”
“Aye-aye, Commodore. Please refrain from entering our space until I am able to confirm your orders,” Captain Westerman replied.
“Helmsman,” Ka-a-Fa began, “Tell the fleet to turn to a heading parallel to the human frontier and reduce speed to one-quarter until we hear back from their ship. I am not ready to start a war with the humans just yet.” Ka-a-Fa rose from his seat and paced about the bridge. There was no one who would verify that mission. He had just made it up. He was certain he would face a court-martial now, either at the hands of the Chiefs of Staff or Fa-a-Di himself. It was a risky move to bring the general into the mix, but he could not think of another answer. He sat heavily, nervously awaiting the response. Time seemed to freeze, and Ka-a-Fa thought he might sit here forever waiting.
After five minutes, the image of Willow Westerman on the bridge of the Resolute appeared on the Dar-Fa’s view screen, saying, “Commodore, we have verified your mission with General Fa-a-Di himself. He offers his greetings and hopes the rest of your flight is safe. You have our approval to enter our space and proceed to Jupiter in the Earth system. Good day, sir.” Willow was smiling.
“Thank you very much, Captain,” Ka-a-Fa replied. “Your gracious words are appreciated, and show the value of our cooperation. Be well, Dar-Fa out.” The screen went blank and was replaced by the view of space in front of the ship. “Ne-o-Ka, tell the fleet to resume our original course and speed. Also, ask Captain No-a-Je of the Bak-Lar to jump over here and meet me in my ready room as soon as possible.” Ka-a-Fa rose to leave the bridge. “And tell the supply depot to send five bottles of whisky to me as soon as possible.”
“Aye-aye, Commodore,” he replied as Ka-a-Fa disappeared into his ready room.
The commodore slumped into his chair in the ready room. He was frantic that Fa-a-Di would have personally authorized the fleet to enter human space. If the general had just said no, the entire mission would have failed. Ka-a-Fa would have been disgraced in front of all Greater Gallia. He probably would have been fired or at least reduced in rank.
As he sat brooding, a crew member hastily entered with the bottles of whisky. He was quickly followed by Captain No-a-Je who took one of the bottles and two glasses and sat across from the commodore. No-a-Je opened the bottle and filled the two glasses, making certain that the commodore’s glass had more whisky. He took a sip and said, “Commodore, let’s have a toast to the success of our mission!”
Ka-a-Fa touched his glass to the other and drank half. “No-a-Je,” he started, “I’ve known you my whole life, right?”
“Yes, Ka-a-Fa,” the captain replied, “We grew up together and went to the same schools. The only time we were separated was when we were assigned to different ships. What’s wrong, Brother?”
“No-a-Je, this mission is tearing me apart. You know the tension between the Chiefs of Staff and Fa-a-Di. There is too much hatred and mistrust there, don’t you think?” he asked.
The captain downed his drink and rose, pacing about the room. “Yes I do, Brother. Most of the crews in our fleet are constantly gossiping about the situation on Gallia. Fifty years ago, when the Predaxian War started, it was those four military men who turned the tide of battle and kept Gallia from being invaded by the enemy. The way that Fa-a-Di and Je-e-Bo led the attack on the Alliance fleet at Nok-lak-a is the subject of hundreds of military textbooks. Now, they behave like mortal enemies,” No-a-Je said.
Ka-a-Fa pounded his fist on his desk and replied, “That’s exactly what I’m talking about, Brother! I’ve heard the stories how Fa-a-Di is trying to give too much power to the outworlders and the Chiefs are vehemently against that, but it doesn’t make sense. How can the small population of Gallia expect to keep all the power?”
“On my ship,” the captain whispered, “we have demanded no one use that word. All the citizens of Greater Gallia are equal. Calling the majority outworlders is very insulting.”
“I agree Brother,” Ka-a-Fa replied. “For some reason though, the Chiefs have no problem brandishing around words like that. Now we are supposed to go to Neptune and risk a war with the humans and Kalideans in order to eliminate a threat that may not even exist. It’s crazy!” The commodore poured another drink, sat back and sipped it.
“Well Brother, we don’t know that the Neptunians are not a threat either,” No-a-Je said. “There is still a chance those creatures will attack us. After all, weren’t their mental signals hurting our crews in orbit?”
“True,” the commodore responded. “I am certain that is why Fa-a-Di approved our entry into human space. If he denied us, and the Neptunians are determined to be a danger, then his career is over. He could be indicted for aiding and abetting the enemy. It’s better to have us there just in case.”
“My concern, Brother is that the Neptunians are not a threat and the Chiefs may order us to destroy them anyway,” No-a-Je said. “Then what will we do?”
“That is the question of the day, Brother. If I had to answer right now, I am one hundred percent certain we will be ordered to attack no matter what.” Ka-a-Fa closed his eyes and dropped his head into his hands. He lifted his head after a moment and stared at No-a-Je, saying, “Brother, in that moment when I am forced to order the attack, what will you and my other captains do?”
No-a-Je took a long drink, set the glass down and stared into space for a minute. He looked at his lifelong friend and replied, “Brother, a soldier must follow orders. But a man has beliefs he must live with. Right now, I don’t know the answer. I think I would follow you to our mutual death if that is what we are ordered to do. If the Alliance attacked today, I would gladly give my life to defeat them. If the Neptunians are a threat, I will kill each of them with my bare hands and beak. If we know they are not dangerous, I just don’t know. A million years ago, when Gallia was a conqueror of worlds, life was simpler. Our ancestors would follow orders and ask questions later. Now we live in a peaceful land of laws and treaties. Asking us to revert to those old ways is not a fair question. What will you do, Brother?”
“First, I would drink at least one bottle of this whisky,” Ka-a-Fa said as he drained his glass again. “Then, I would think about my family, my friends, and my civilization, remembering my modest role in all of them. Then I would decide what to do next. I don’t think I’ll know until I’m in that position. God willing, that will never happen. No-a-Je, let’s get back to work.” The two men left the ready room.
After a few minutes, twelve crystal spiders moved from their hiding places and glowed light blue. They all flew down and landed on the commodores’ desk, so that they were all touching each other. The team leader, Michamanades Nolobitamore added their strength to his in order to send his report to No-Makla. “Home world, this is team forty-seven. We are now two weeks out from No-Makla. We are making some progress in understanding these creatures, but not enough. Clearly this fleet has the power to attack our planet and we should be prepared. While we still do not understand their thoughts or spoken language, we can feel a great deal of indecision and confusion among the creatures. We will be in range to jump home in five days. Until then we will continue trying to learn their language. The issue from my last report is still very troubling. We are getti
ng strong mind control messages on some of the ships. I am keeping my crew here since this ship seems unaffected. We are sensing at least three or four creatures that are sending those messages. I am very concerned these messages follow patterns similar to our communications. I do not know the source, but it is possible there are Predaxians on board one or more of these ships. Team forty-seven out.” The creatures glowed white and disappeared.
Chapter 28
It took five days for Dave and Charlie to get back to the Io Space Port. He had to arrange for others to take his place managing the rebuilding of the Far Sky and New Dawn colonies. To keep his word to Drew and Corrine Baker, he asked Aria to jump back to Earth with Horace. He had been very disappointed that Jake had gone to Neptune, but understood the reasons. Horace had to bury his wife and their children on New Dawn as waves of disease swept through the colony. He missed each of them every day, and would be happy to have even one more minute with any of them again. Dave had also been required to provide detailed briefings on his encounter with the maklan to the team on Io as well as the High Councils of Kalidus and Earth.
On Io, his first priority was to meet with Bill and the team to hear how their work was going. It had not been a good meeting. Progress was painfully slow. The telepathic communication was too complex for them to decipher anything other than hints about emotions. When Dave told them about Jake, the team was very excited. They desperately wanted Jake to come and help them. Jake had already figured out how to communicate with humans. The Galliceans would never take a human interpreter’s word for what the maklans said. They would need to hear it for themselves. When Dave told them that it took Jake one hundred years to learn to communicate with Horace Hildebrand, they were frustrated again. The Gallicean fleet was a week away from Jupiter. Fixing this communication problem seemed insurmountable. War was looking like the only probable outcome. Eight human and five Kalidean star cruisers orbited Mars, preparing for the fight. It would be a terrible day in the galaxy if fighting did break out. Dave began to wonder if sacrificing the maklans would be acceptable if it would save the galaxy.
