The Dave Brewster Series

by Karl Morgan

  “I’m sorry, Odo, but I can’t let you go back there now,” Dave replied. “That planet is too vulnerable and the current situation is extremely dangerous.”

  “Yes, I know, Dave, but I have chosen to help those people and cannot let that go due to extraneous circumstances, no matter how severe,” Odo smiled. “I’m sure you understand.”

  “I do understand, but I’m not going to change my mind on this one,” Dave said as he began to eat his breakfast.

  “So, I am to be your prisoner here?” Odo asked with a wry smile.

  “Not at all, Odo. In fact, you are going with me to Gallicea to complete the Sojourn,” Dave answered, grinning happily. “Then you will stay with me on Nightsky until the danger either kills us all or we defeat it.” Odo only smiled and turned back to his meal.

  “This is very unusual, Dave,” Fa-a-Di said. “I had to get special permission so you could come to the Gallicea system and now you are unilaterally adding Odo to our group? Shouldn’t we talk about this first? I need to confer with the High Priest as well.”

  “I have already done that, General,” De-o-Pa said as he joined the group. “The only condition is that Odo visits the High Priest on Gallicea before departing the system. He is honored to have a great man like Odo Pak in his system.” De-o-Pa walked over to Odo. “It is my great pleasure to meet you sir,” he said extending his hand.

  Odo rose and hugged the Prelate. “It is an honor to meet you as well, De-o-Pa. I look forward to our adventure together.” De-o-Pa sat next to Odo and took a sip of coffee.

  A look of horror crossed Odo’s face and he grimaced in pain. “Odo, are you okay?” Dave asked.

  After a moment, the tranquil look returned to Odo’s face, but a few tears were running down his cheeks. “I will be fine soon, Dave. I mentioned to Darlene that I foresaw an attack on Nan. That attack has just begun.”

  “Who would do such a thing?” Darlene asked. “Nan is a peaceful planet.”

  “You know that, but many believe the power of the Hive there was behind the decline of the Society. That lie is actively being spread by the Brotherhood agents still there,” Odo explained. “The next target will be the Lagamar system. Hopefully those planets are better defended.”

  “Will Nan survive the attack?” Dave asked. “That planet is a jewel that must be protected at all costs!”

  “Don’t worry too much about Nan, Dave,” Odo smiled. “The Guardians will protect the planet and her people. Only limited damage will be allowed so the attackers will feel successful. For example, I was told that my residence would be completely destroyed. The attackers blamed me for the dissolution of the Brotherhood, and now they believe they have their blood revenge.”

  “That’s why you didn’t want to go back to Nan!” Darlene shouted. “You knew they believed you were there and that your house was a target. How could you know that?”

  “Perhaps Dave will learn some of those answers when we complete the Sojourn,” Odo replied. “That is, if he doesn’t already know. What do you think, Dave?”

  Dave pondered the situation and came up blank. “I’m not sure, but I’d bet good money the Source has a lot to do with it.”

  “That’s no bet, Dave Brewster,” Odo laughed. “Everything is the Source, so it is involved in every action. But you are getting warmer, I must say.”

  “Elder, you mentioned something about the Guardians. Who are they?” De-o-Pa asked.

  “Well, I’m glad someone is paying attention to an old man,” Odo laughed. “Being a natural Hive, Nan must have natural guardians to protect it. It was the Guardians who convinced the Society of Humanity to make Nan the home of the Nan people. The Guardians knew the Nan would never use the power of the Source as a weapon.”

  “I would have guessed the Nan people were the Guardians,” Fa-a-Di replied.

  “In a way, they are now,” Odo said. “But the planet existed long before humans colonized it. The naturally occurring life on any natural Hive planet will evolve to protect and defend the Hive. While one species may dominate that, all will work together. For example, the Nan people grow many crops there to support the population. If another species tries to take over the Hive, those crops might adapt to be poisonous for the invaders while still being edible by the locals.”

  “Brother-in-law, I must request to be released from the Sojourn,” De-o-Nu said to Fa-a-Di. “Clearly the current situation demands that I command the fleet against the invaders.”

  “I have to disagree again, brother,” Dave said. “De-o-Nu, I need you with me. There is too much at stake for us to go off in our own directions.”

  “Admiral, with all due respect, I think the safety of Greater Gallia comes first,” De-o-Nu argued. “If I must, I will resign my commission and join the Gallicean Army as a private.”

  “No, brother, Dave is right,” De-o-Pa said. “We must stick together on this one. I have already been given approval to be permanently assigned to Fa-a-Di’s flagship. Dave requested that I do so. There is nothing you can do with a fleet of ships or a rifle over your shoulder to stop an enemy who can appear out of thin air. You might have fifty ships protecting Gallia when one hundred enemy ships appear over Gallicea or Nom-Kat-La. You could never get there in time to stop the atrocity.”

  “But I feel useless,” De-o-Nu argued. “I am a warrior. I must stop the enemy.”

  “And we will,” Dave said. “Today, we don’t have many tools to help us against an enemy hell bent on terrorist tactics. We must find a way to do so. The Hive here is our only tool today. We must protect it at all costs. Once the resources are in place here, then we can start looking for other tools and ways to counteract the enemy.”

  “But don’t we have the Hive on Atar Pa as well, Dave?” Darlene asked. “Doesn’t that double our capability?”

  “I’m not sure about that, Darlene,” Dave sighed. “I believe Fola Untor may be one of our most aggressive adversaries in this battle. I would bet he’s trying to turn that Hive over to the Brotherhood.”

  “But Wendo Balak would never stand for that!” Fa-a-Di scoffed. “That planet has always been loyal to him. Isn’t Serena Vanatee his granddaughter? We must talk to her.”

  “I agree, brother, but it is still possible the Predaxians are using their special talents there to twist the minds of the locals,” Dave argued. “If the planetary president and Serena are under their control, the agents can be forced to do whatever their controllers want them to do.”

  “That’s a pretty bleak scenario,” Odo replied. “I hope it isn’t that bad, Dave. Are you suggesting that we attack that Hive?”

  “Of course not, Odo,” Dave said. “That would give our enemies the proof they need to bring more human planets into their fold. We would be branded as the aggressors.”

  “Then what do we do now, Dave?” Fa-a-Di asked. “Our enemies have all the cards in their hands and we have no plan. We have to do something!”

  “Let’s finish the Sojourn, brother,” Dave answered. “Perhaps the Source will reach out to us with answers. If not that, then perhaps it will give us time to think.”

  “I will ask Zee to have the Hive prepare to send you back to Gallicea,” Darlene said. “Then you can take the shuttle to the other planet.”

  “Perhaps we can change that plan a bit,” Odo countered. “Please have the Hive move the shuttle to the other planet and then send us directly there. It will save time and we won’t have to worry about our pressure suits.”

  “Well, that doesn’t help us,” De-o-Nu said. “We have no breathers here and can’t survive for even a moment on that planet without one.”

  “The Hive can fetch those breathers here before we go,” Odo replied. “Although I’m not certain you really need them.”

  “What are you talking about, Elder? Of course, we need them. The atmosphere is toxic to us,” Fa-a-Di argued.

  “Brothers, the planet is a Hive, just like Nan and Tak-Makla,” Dave replied. “The power of Source will protect you, although I agree w
e should take breathers with us, just in case.”

  Chapter 23

  Panzak was a verdant terrestrial world near the frontier between the Paxran and Donnaki empires. Somehow it had been spared the violence of the ongoing sparring between the two neighbors who constantly sought an advantage over the other. Panzak was only a few light-years from the other Paxran planet Tak-u-Baka, which was the last line of defense between the superpowers. If that stronghold ever fell, Panzak would fall as well. These were different times though. The odd alliance between the Brotherhood agents and the Predaxian rebels was growing, and their stories of the evil, so-called Free Society were enough to warrant a conclave of powers on this side of the galaxy.

  Many smaller societies had eagerly joined the new alliance as it meant greater security not only from the Free Society, but the Paxran and Donnaki as well. The conclave was now in its fifth day. Each culture was given time to talk about their civilizations and strengths, but those narratives dragged on and on as each tried to impress and overshadow those before them. Thankfully, Emperor Lok Zul of Donnaki and Lord General Kolu Inzaka of Paxran had declined the offer to talk, allowing their reputations to stand on their own. As the speeches droned on, the patience of the leadership was wearing very thin. After lunch had been served, Fola Untor stopped the session and moved to begin the real narrative for this meeting.

  “Bless you, Mr. Untor for stopping this endless posturing,” Lok Zul said. “While I have enjoyed each of your speeches, I’m afraid we may all grow old and die before we come to any meaningful conversation on the problems facing us.” He stood and began to walk slowly around the massive ring of tables where the various delegations were seated. “As you all know, as leader of the Donnaki, my military is the strongest in the galaxy…”

  “One of the strongest, dear emperor,” Lord General Inzaka interjected.

  “Of course, friend,” Lok smiled. “One of the strongest in the galaxy. My forces have seen the Hive weapon in action. Fifty ships were crushed to dust by a single weapon. Thankfully, the crews were magically transported back to Donnaki. And that may just have been a taste of their power.”

  “Shortly after that attack, the Hive weapon disappeared from your space,” Kolu replied. “That weapon was thousands of miles in diameter and it disappeared like a ghost in the night.”

  Lok spun around to stare at Kolu and sneered. “For the moment, I will disregard the implications of your statement, general. Obviously, you are engaged in spying in my sovereign space.”

  “Gentlemen, let us please be civil,” Fola begged. “We all spy on one another. That is normal for each society. We must protect our people and sometimes that requires us to monitor the activities of our neighbors. We cannot be distracted from the real enemy here.”

  Field Marshall Fongula Nokka of Palus rose and said, “I must agree with the human, friends. Frankly, I am not certain I agree with the need for a new alliance, especially when the Predaxians are involved. They enslaved my people for generations, and it was the humans, Kalideans and Galliceans who freed us.”

  “Then why are you here, brother valakar?” Lok asked. “Perhaps you are a spy for the Free Society?”

  “With all due respect, that is ridiculous,” Fongula laughed. “We have all been briefed on the capabilities of the Hive weapon. There could be ten thousand tekkan agents in this room right now and we wouldn’t know it. Besides, while all of you wail and gnash your teeth in fear of the Hive device, it is only the Donnaki and Palians who have faced it. While the emperor lost some warships, one of my planets was dissolved to dust before our eyes.” The others in the room groaned and whispered among themselves at the thought.

  “The Field Marshall is exactly right,” Altamar Zendo agreed. “I was in that battle, foolishly serving the forces of the Free Society. My only excuse is that my brother the emperor had sentenced me to life in prison and I was thirsting for revenge.”

  “Fongula is also correct about the tekkan agents,” Fola said. “I was a Hive Chief Engineer in the home galaxy before our enemies came and destroyed our Society. I have the ability to detect agents in a Hive, but only human ones. I know little about the tekkans. That is another reason we must destroy their Hive.”

  “Then let’s stop talking about it and do it!” Lok shouted. “I have two plasma bomb fleets at your disposal. Let’s send them to Tak-Makla and blow that planet to rubble right now!”

  “Unfortunately, Your Majesty, there are fatal flaws in your fleets,” Altamar said. “They would be destroyed before they could fire one shot.”

  “What in heaven are you talking about?” Lok asked incredulously.

  “Let’s put our cards on the table here,” Fola interjected. “Of all the societies we invited here, only one declined. Who was that?” The others looked around, but no one had any idea, as the list of invitees was very secret. “The Maklakar declined the invitation.”

  Kolu laughed out loud. “Now you’re the crazy one, Fola. We destroyed the Maklakar civilization generations ago. How can ghosts decline an invitation?”

  “They are still around, Lord General,” Premier It Ka-la of Vilu-Zan replied. “I have entertained them on my own planet, only a week or so ago.”

  “I don’t believe you, bird,” Kolu scoffed. “Dead is dead.”

  “Unfortunately, Kolu, the valakar is correct,” Altamar said. “I was there myself. I spoke to them and gave them some flawed information on Hives. After your armies destroyed most of their planets, the survivors fled to the edge of the galaxy and began to rebuild. They became incredibly xenophobic and focused all of their resources on defensive capabilities. They created the plasma bomb technology, not the Donnaki. However, they only gave them the earliest iterations. The plasma ball is very unstable until it can be launched at the enemy. If the tekkans fired a single shot at the developing ball, it would explode and send the pulses back to the ships, destroying most of them.”

  “They gave us this technology?” Lok asked. “How can this be? I was told that we did it.”

  “Don’t blame your scientists, emperor,” Altamar replied. “They would go home from work each night. In the morning, they might find one or two elements in their analyses or experiments very slightly different than they remembered. They likely passed that off to a poor memory or too much whisky.”

  “But they gave us flawed technology,” Lok continued. “Isn’t that worse?”

  “Not at all,” Altamar laughed. “It was the same technology they invented. They simply discovered flaws later and fixed them. When your scientists discover the flaws, they will fix them as well.”

  “But why would they do that?” Lok asked. “Why would they give us such a weapon?”

  “Don’t be an idiot, Lok,” Kolu laughed. “We destroyed their civilization, so they gave you the capability to destroy us. It is the ultimate revenge, served by the only other empire capable of delivering it.” He turned to Fola and asked, “So, the Maklakar will join the Free Society then?”

  “I doubt that,” Fola answered. “We must remember and forever thank the Maklakar. They attacked and almost destroyed the tekkan Hive. Without their actions, our plans would be meaningless. They have given us the gift of time. Their fear and hatred of the Paxran is probably all the incentive they need to sit on the sidelines. As Altamar said, the Maklakar are content to stay safely in their corner of the galaxy and be left alone.”

  “Then what do we do now?” Kolu asked.

  “It has already started with the Donnaki attack on Nanda,” Fola replied. “We have killed the leader of the Nan people who was the greatest expert in the galaxy on Hives and Universal Power. The various cultures in the Free Society are already beginning to pull away from their alliance. Each attack will target a planet that seems totally helpless and friendly. Over time, the cultures will withdraw further from the alliance in order to safeguard their own people. As the alliance fails, we can turn our attention back to Tak-Makla and kill that Hive once and for all. After that, we take out our most dreade
d enemies, Fa-a-Di of Greater Gallia, Mencius of Kalidus and Dave Brewster of Earth. That will throw the entire Free Society into turmoil. Then we can invade and take over.”

  Lok Zul was laughing. He said, “Okay, I understand the incentive for me and most of the people in this room. But Fola, what’s in this for you? Are you and your Brotherhood planning on taking over our galaxy too?”

  Fola thought for a few moments before saying, “No. Honestly, once those three are dead, my work here is complete and I plan to return to my own galaxy. If the battle is still raging here, I will offer what help I can, but I came here for them.”

  Now Kolu Inzaka was laughing as well. “So you came two million light-years to get personal revenge, and are willing to destroy billions of lives to get it? That sounds pretty sick and twisted to me.”

  “That may be true, but the Brotherhood was a powerful force in the greatest civilization the universe has ever seen. It was those three who brought the Society down and caused my men to be seen as pariahs on their own planets,” Fola began. “I suppose that makes me like the Maklakar. I am here to provide weapons and support to those who can help me destroy my enemies. You can reject me now, and I will try other ways to complete my task. In that case, you will learn nothing more about Hives and will be forever at the mercy of the Free Society. Once I succeed, I will go home and try to rebuild my civilization. From that moment forward, you will be on your own.”

  “And you, General Zendo?” Kolu asked. “You represent a few hundred Predaxian rebels. Are you hoping to rebuild the Predaxian Alliance and rule like your brother?”

  “I’m still trying to figure that out, Lord General,” Altamar smiled. “I fear the days of the Alliance are gone forever. The Predaxians have lost their desire to rule. I think the Field Marshall can attest to that. But my agents are now outcasts as well. I have no desire to take the place of my nephew Panoplez as President or to rebuild the empire we once had. But I don’t fit in as a normal citizen there either. To be honest, I am no friend of the three individuals Fola is hunting. While Dave Brewster did save me from the prison planet Thuk, I believe it was his actions and those of the Galliceans and tekkans that put me there in the first place. Whether they live or die is of no consequence to me. My agents and I are looking for a place to belong. We have some incredible talents that are now shunned on Predax. If we can find a place to help and be treated well, we will be happy.”