by Karl Morgan
“That is my theory exactly,” Zee said. “But I have no idea how it could have happened. We have had no contact with Earth. I told you last evening we acquired green coffee from Earth some time ago. That came from a trading partner of the Kalideans who also trades with us. Kalidus would have no knowledge of the indirect connection to Tak-Makla.”
“Zee, when I first met Jake, he told me that his maklan society had lived on Earth millions of years before life left the oceans and moved onto land,” Dave replied. “Could their DNA have been left behind and impacted human development?”
“Var thought about that too, Dave,” Zee continued. “He asked Jake to enter The Hive this afternoon. It didn’t work. Jake felt great pain when we connected him, so we immediately broke the connection.”
“This is indeed a quandary, Zee,” Dave said as he sat on the sand. “Somehow, tekkans must have traveled to Earth and inadvertently altered our DNA.”
“While that seems the simplest solution, it is quite unlikely,” Zee replied, joining Dave sitting on the sand. “We appear to have an open society here, Dave, but really we are quite regimented. Half of our people work in The Hive. One quarter travel the universe trading with our millions of partners. The rest live here, working in government or businesses supporting the work of the rest. Each of us knows our role in society. The Hive was not so named just due to the shape. Our society runs a bit like a bee hive on your home world. Rather than one queen, we have a group of ministers. Everyone else understands their roles and works diligently to improve life for all. It would be unimaginable for a tekkan to defy the rules and travel to an unapproved planet.”
“Perhaps one of your trading partners inadvertently took tekkan DNA and left it on Earth long ago,” Dave guessed. “Similar to your purchase of green coffee, you may have traded with Kalidus, for example, and their crews visited Earth, leaving the contamination behind them.”
“I hope you are right, Dave Brewster,” Zee said somberly. “I must tell you that my ministers have a different idea that is very disturbing. You and your friends from Gallia and Kalidus live in this small area of our galaxy with us. As Minister Fak mentioned at last night’s dinner, we have found more than three hundred and fifty living cultures that are descendants of the settlers from Ai-Makla. You already know the Predaxians who are cruel and barbaric.”
“Our troops will face them in battle very soon, Zee,” Dave replied.
“Yes, I know,” Zee acknowledged. “Unfortunately for the memory of our ancestors, the Predaxians are not the only barbarian maklan civilization. Not long after The Hive became operational, our scouts discovered a large, friendly maklan culture on the other side of the galactic center. They were called the Maklakar. They inhabited ten thousand systems and had a population of five hundred billion souls. We established trading arrangements with them that were very beneficial for both of us. That relationship lasted for millions of years.”
“Did they change and become warlike?” Dave asked.
“Unfortunately, the truth is worse than that!” Zee exclaimed. “Gradually, our trade with them lessened, which is quite common. Our mutual needs changed over time. Eventually, we lost track of them. Many millennia later, we found new resources we thought might interest the Maklakar. We sent scouts through The Hive to see how they were. All of their colonies had either been destroyed or taken over by a different maklan race, called the Paxran. We checked every planet and could find no evidence that any Maklakar were still in existence.”
“The Paxran killed an entire civilization?” Dave said.
“Yes, Dave, that is correct,” Zee confirmed. “We managed to obtain some of their DNA when one of their ships entered our space. They are genetically almost identical to tekkans, which is exceedingly unlikely. That may mean that Paxran traveled to Earth and contaminated the DNA. We do not know what else they may have done there. While they were living, the Maklakar told us they were trying to develop a technology similar to our Hive. If the Paxran stole that technology and built a Hive of their own, they might take over the entire galaxy. Their rule would make the Predaxians seem like harmless pets.”
Dave stood and said, “That’s why you were so irate about the people inside Ai-Makla. If we controlled that planet and gave it to the Paxran, it would be a disaster.”
Zee rose and put an arm on Dave’s shoulder. “Exactly Dave. That was why we were concerned. We have several million secret agents in the lower levels of The Hive who check on the Paxran continually. We are looking for other planets in their region suitable for Hives and looking for any of their activity in this part of the galaxy. The Paxran occupy six thousand systems. We have found no such planets in their space. There are a few within a thousand light-years of their region which we monitor daily. Any activity on a planet hot with universal power gets our immediate attention.”
Dave smiled, “Your advice is to stay away from their part of the galaxy then.”
Zee laughed. “Not exactly, but it is a safe idea. I believe the Paxran will inevitably move into our region. Our cultures need to be tightly connected so we can stop any such incursion. We can help our friends understand the technologies where the Paxran are stronger, thereby improving your ships and weapons. We can help you contact thousands of new civilizations that want peace and trade. That will grow our alliance. When we are strong enough, the Paxran will not dare invade us.”
“You are very generous, Zee,” Dave said as they began to walk back to the party which was now in full swing. “What can we do for our part?”
“I’m glad you asked that, Dave,” Zee smiled. “We desire trade, peace and defense. We are not an aggressive race like the Nanda or Galliceans. We will not be able to go into battle against the Paxran. It is not in our DNA. We can provide information through The Hive to help your forces. I believe any incursion by them is millennia in the future, so that should not color our agreements yet. However, building a stronger defense is a great option. Dave, Charlie told me that you would be known as Dave, Founder of a Thousand Worlds.”
Dave laughed, “Yes, that’s what I heard too. Just so you know, I’ve only fixed two colonies and just established two more. I haven’t earned that title yet.”
They stopped at the bottom of the steps to the patio. Dave could sense many at the party staring at them. “Dave, we now know humans can enter The Hive. You are just beginning to know its power. There is much more to tell you about that, but not tonight. I think our guests are feeling our absence. When you do build those colonies, please let us help locate ten or twenty at strong intersection points of universal power. Then we will build ten or twenty more Hives within our space. They can be manned with tekkans or humans or both. Other races that have the ability to join a Hive can be invited too. As we all learn more about universal power, the presence of twenty Hives would be an awesome force that would not only block the Paxran, but would also enable all of our civilizations to travel to the edges of the universe and beyond.”
“Brother Zee,” Dave laughed, “having been in The Hive and seen the power if only for an hour or two, I have to agree with you completely. Let’s have dinner and break the news to your guests!”
At the top of the stairs, Dave and Zee could see everyone in the crowd looking at them anxiously. Zee grabbed Dave’s hand and they thrust their arms into the air. The crowd cheered loudly and applause filled the air.
Chapter 40
General Fa-a-Di paced angrily about the bridge of Je-e-Bo’s flagship, the No-De-Ka. Je-e-Bo was barking orders to the bridge crew. A number of war ships were not maintaining their ordered formation. Several Free Predax ships were not accustomed to Galliceans protocols and kept breaking formation and moving around the fleet.
“Captain Narka, this is Je-e-Bo,” he shouted into the com-link, “get your ships in formation now! Your ships are getting into the firing lines of the fleet. We will not be able to fire on the enemy with them in the way.”
“Acknowledged, Field Marshall,” Van replied. “I don’t know
what’s going on either, sir. All my captains have their orders. We are hailing them, but they don’t seem to want to fall into position.”
“Je-e-Bo, this is Altamar Zendo. I think I know what is happening,” he said. “I believe the bridge crews of those ships are compromised by Predaxians with the power I mentioned yesterday. I need three maklans to jump us to the ships in question. I will take care of this mutiny!”
“I will go there now with two others, Fleet Admiral,” Kondi replied. “If Altamar turns, I will jump him into open space and leave him there.” She flashed off the bridge.
“Well, there goes your bodyguard, Fa-a-Di,” Je-e-Bo laughed.
“I believe she will do more for our cause there than here, brother,” Fa-a-Di replied.
Captain Valamaz Kalmar was frantic. His ship was out of formation and he demanded to know the reason. The helmsman did not respond so he jumped up and rushed to the station. The helmsman pulled a blaster and pressed it into the captain’s chest. Two other crew members grabbed Valamaz and dragged him back to his command chair and held him down. The helmsman put the blaster on his console and kept pressing buttons frantically. The ship’s weapon system began to energize as the ship veered off course further and turned toward the No-De-Ka.
“Valamaz, what are you doing?” Van’s voice screamed over the com-link. “Have you all gone insane?”
Altamar and Kondi flashed onto the bridge. The helmsman raised his blaster and Altamar shot him square in the chest. He glanced around the bridge until he recognized the science officer, who had been part of his special team. “So, Nark, we meet again.”
“Altamar, you old fool,” Nark said as he aimed his blaster at his mentor. “Prepare to die.” Before he could pull the trigger, Kondi jumped on him and flashed out into open space. A second later, Kondi returned alone. Altamar took over the helm and pulled the ship back into formation and ordered the weapons to stand down. The stunned helmsmen stood and looked bewildered.
“Valamaz, your bridge crew had been under control by a secret agent of the emperor. That agent, your former science officer is now dead, floating in space. Please don’t hold your crew responsible for this. It was out of their control. We give you your ship back. Kondi, let’s go to the next one,” Altamar said. He and Kondi flashed off the bridge.
“What is God’s name is going on over there, Valamaz!” Van shouted again.
“I’m not sure, but I think we’re okay now, Van. I don’t believe it, but I just saw Altamar Zendo on my bridge,” Valamaz replied.
Thirty minutes after she had left, Kondi flashed back onto the bridge of the No-De-Ka. “Field Marshall, I think we have corrected the issue,” she said. “We found ten special agents hidden among the bridge crews of seven ships. They have all been eliminated.”
“Excellent work, Kondi,” Fa-a-Di laughed. “If we survive this day, you will certainly get a medal.”
The weapons officer, Zu-No-Pa interrupted, “I’m sorry, sirs, but the enemy fleet is less than one hour from us now. I have advised all ships to energize their defenses and weapon systems.”
“Thank you, Zu-No-Pa,” Je-e-Bo replied. “When will we be in range for the maklans on Localus?”
“We are in range now, Je-e-Bo,” Kondi replied. “However, our troops won’t flash over to the enemy ships until we are ten minutes from contact. If we go too early, the enemy may have enough time to react to our actions. We need to create confusion and disarray in their fleet.”
“Kondi, when should we launch our fighters?” Fa-a-Di asked.
“I’m still not certain I like the idea of you in a fighter, brother,” Je-e-Bo said. “There won’t be much steel between you and the vacuum.”
“We’ve discussed this too much, brother,” Fa-a-Di replied. “We have a disadvantage in the number of capital ships. When we launch a thousand fighters from Localus, it will intensify the disarray within the enemy fleet. We will pick at their defenses while they try to maneuver to attack your cruisers. Besides, these are our most advanced fighters. Their shields and weapons systems are not much less than yours. Plus we have a few surprises for them.”
“Fa-a-Di, we have been through so much,” Je-e-Bo sighed. “I have the feeling that we may never drink whisky or fly through a Dar-Fa again.”
“Brother, our fates are in God’s Hands,” Fa-a-Di said. “You and I are simple warriors, Je-e-Bo. Our duty is to fight to protect our planets and our children. If it is my fate to die today, so be it. I personally think you and I have many more adventures ahead of us. By the way, I have twenty bottles of the best whisky in my quarters. When I return, we shall share a couple of them, my friend.”
“Yes, my brother,” Je-e-Bo confirmed. “God willing, we will take many Predaxians with us, and especially that dog, Emperor Zendo!” The two Galliceans hugged and saluted one another. Then, Fa-a-Di and Kondi flashed off the bridge down to Localus and their waiting star fighter.
“Field Marshall,” the communications officer reported, “the Kong-Fa and Nightsky have just appeared in our formation. I did not see them a second ago, and then there they were.”
“Thank you for the wonderful news,” Je-e-Bo smiled. “Our odds have just improved. Make certain their captains know our plans.”
Chapter 41
The Predaxian fleet broke into two groups of fifty ships. In the center of one cloud of cruisers were eight troop transport ships. That group fell slightly behind the first group which was led by the imperial flagship. Pondi’s group focused their fire on the center of the defensive line of cruisers, which had left orbit to confront the attackers ten thousand miles from Localus. Two Gallicean cruisers took the brunt of the attack. Their defenses failed and laser blasts cut great tears in their hulls.
The attackers aimed to slip through the defensive line as the two heavily damaged ships crept away from the scene of battle. Five Kalidean cruisers flew through the opening and blasted the Pondi with their weapons. One of the Pondi’s engines exploded in a ball of fire and the ship swerved to escape further contact. The rest of the Predaxian ships returned fire, damaging two Kalidean ships and re-opening the path through the defending fleet. Dozens of ships twisted and tumbled as they battled for firing positions. As the opening in the defensive line grew, the second group of Predaxian ships flew through the gap and approached Localus.
Zakamar Vondee flashed onto the bridge of the Palian cruiser Daplago with her maklan bodyguard. The Daplago was leading the group of transport carriers. She shot the helmsmen with the blaster in her left hand which was set to stun and ducked behind that console. The bridge crew returned fire which glanced off the console. Zak concentrated as Altamar had taught her and glanced around the room. She saw one of Altamar’s protégés clinging to the chest of the captain. She drew her other blaster from the right holster and shot the Predaxian at full force, which fell to the floor dead. More blasts hit the console, which was about to crumple when they flashed back to the Parax.
“Pan, there were too many of them,” Zak panted. “There must have been ten Predaxians controlling the Palians on the bridge alone. There was one special agent that I killed.”
“Damn it,” Pan shouted, “where are the maklans? They were supposed to handle that for us.” He turned to the captain, “Van, blast the bridge of that ship now!”
“Belay that order!” came a voice over the com-link. “This is Jake Benomafolays. My team and I are on the bridge of the Daplago and we have the situation under control. The captain was a personal friend of Fa-a-Di and he has turned his ship to return to Palus.” As they watched on the view screen, the Daplago changed course and headed back into space. The Parax bridge crew cheered as Jake and his agents flashed onto the bridge.
The Parax shuddered as enemy fire tested its defenses. Van turned his squadron of ships and reengaged the enemy. After a moment, the maklan team flashed off the bridge again.
The transport ships arrived in orbit over Localus and hundreds of shuttles began to ferry troops to the surface. All but ten of the
cruisers in the second group left orbit to join the battle, which was beginning to turn in favor of the Predaxians. Their numerical advantage was proving difficult to overcome. As the first shuttles entered the atmosphere, hundreds of fighters flew at them from the planet. The ten remaining cruisers moved to intercept the fighters, but not before many shuttles were either destroyed or retreated toward the relative safety of the transport ships.
Fa-a-Di’s swarm of fighters headed toward the transport ships which were aiming fire in their direction. The weak weapons on the transports were no match for the upgraded defenses of the new generation of star fighters. On his orders, the fighters broke formation and fired at the shuttles and transports. They zipped between ships, taking easy shots when possible. Fa-a-Di kept his ship between the transports and their protecting cruisers, hoping an errant blast from a cruiser would hit their own ships instead. One transport was opening its shuttle bay to receive returning shuttles. Fa-a-Di slipped around the transport and flew in formation among the shuttles. As the bay doors opened to maximum, he accelerated to pass the shuttles and blasted the unprotected interior of the shuttle bay. The transport shuddered with explosions and began to lose altitude. Fa-a-Di had to accelerate again to avoid being hit by the large ship as it fell toward the atmosphere. It broke up as it dropped toward the planet and exploded again upon impact.
Emperor Nokalez Zendo moved his flag to the cruiser Bankalo when the Pondi was heavily damaged. He sat despondently in the command chair next to Captain Fondaya Benkomar. His great nephew, Branak had died when the blasts from the Kalidean ships had ruptured the hull of the Predaxian ship. He had been told that his own brother and son were leading the Free Predax ships that were attacking him now. Several Palian cruisers had deserted and were returning to Palus, where more enemy agents were systematically eliminating Predaxian mind control agents. While the battle continued outside, he thought only of how hard he had tried to maintain the great Predaxian Empire his ancestors had built for him. His ships were not losing the battle in space, but they were not winning either. A stalemate in this battle would end his reign, he was certain of that. The populace had grown tired of mind control and imperial rule. They had grown soft with the comforts their hated empire provided for them.
