Mace nodded. “Mr. Hobbs, proceed in slowly. Johnny, raise them on the comm.”
Johnny said, “What do we do if they send out some of those nuke ships?”
Mace replied, “We take them down planet-side like we did on Reddack. My guess is the Dellus will disable them before potentially killing millions of their own people.”
Johnny grinned. “Sweet. I like that.”
Mace looked over the sensor data on the wall display. “Mr. Crawford, I want you and Jenny to take the shuttle to that station. Johnny, you and Jane go with them.”
Johnny raised an eyebrow. “You think you can pull Jane away from little Zaxy?”
Mace replied, “Vanessa and Tres can look after him. Just make sure her head’s in the game before you leave.”
Derwood raced onto the bridge deck.
Johnny reached down, scooping him up to his lap. “What’s that? You say you want to go with me? You want to tear into the Dellus butchers? Hey, I’m right there with you. It’s time a few heads rolled in their disgusting empire.”
Johnny looked up at Mace. “You sending us to the station because you think the infants might be there?”
Mace nodded. “If they brought them back, I would think they would be best isolated there. Lots of eyes down on that planet.”
Hans turned, “Mr. Hardy, something just occurred to me. We saw a mixture of species being spliced together back there. What if this is a Galactic Union effort, and not just the Dellus and Mawga? Those Muhatha have spies on them as well. What if the Union is already running this operation?”
Mace replied, “If that’s the case I think we’re in more trouble than we thought. Our embryos could be out there in just about every system of the Union.”
Fatso Geerok said, “I think we’ll know soon enough, Mr. Hardy. If they send out those nuclearized ships to chase us, this is a Union operation. Those would be highly illegal otherwise. The seven founders would not trust each other with having such a weapon. That small ship could easily take out a Muhatha, changing the balance of power in a second.”
Johnny said, “I have an incoming hail.”
Mace replied, “Push it to the display wall.”
An image of a Dellus ruling party member showed on the display. “Mr. Hardy. I am Duke Freehan Wellit. I have been authorized to speak with you regarding our situation. I would however ask that you return to a location just outside sensor range where this can be discussed.”
Mace shook his head. “Not happening, Duke. We move back you sick one of those nuclear ships on us.”
The duke replied, “I don’t know what ships you speak of, Mr. Hardy. I only ask that our discussions here be done in private.”
Mace said, “Doesn’t that violate Galactic Union rules or something?”
The duke returned a nervous look. “Negotiations are the purview of each member, Mr. Hardy. I would like to come out there in a shuttle to meet with you personally if possible.”
Mace sighed. “Fine. We’ll pull back for the moment. But I want you to stop short of reaching us. I’ll send a ship out to check your shuttle. We’ve been lied to a few too many times.”
The duke bowed. “I shall leave momentarily.”
Mace turned to Liam. Mr. Hobbs. Turn us around.”
Johnny said, “You think this is a good idea?”
Mace replied, “I’m always willing to talk first. It’s possible these clowns don’t know anything about what’s going on.”
The Rogers stopped in free space, just outside the sensor range of the myriad of ships that moved in and around the planet of Nineka. A shuttle, carrying the duke, stopped short of the Human ship. Jenny departed in a shuttle to do a close-in scan. No sign of weapons were found. The two shuttles proceeded to dock in the Rogers’ bays.
Mace was waiting as the Dellus duke walked down a ramp. “You aren’t wasting our time are you, Mr. Wellit?”
The duke replied, “I must apologize, Mr. Hardy. Things have been chaotic here the last day or two. It seems a rogue admiral ordered our Muhatha to leave the system without permission. First, all non-Dellus personnel were forcibly removed from the ships before they departed. One of those ships has not returned. The admiral has been taken into custody. There are also several Callista ships that have not reported.”
“And why does this require talking to us in private?”
The duke folded his hands behind his back as he paced back and forth. “We have mixed reports that the Claridan was destroyed by this ship after the admiral attempted an assault against you. If our investigation proves that to be true, the responsible parties will be tried here first before being turned over to the Galactic Union council. I was hoping to confirm that action with you, Mr. Hardy. A loss of one of our Muhatha ships could have grave consequences for our standing in the Union. Those ships are what keep us all in balance. Losing one would be a tremendous sign of weakness and a blow to the negotiating power of the Dellus people.”
Mace shook his head. “I get a different story every time I talk to any of you people. You’re all trying to make side deals with the Humans that go outside of your Union rules. What is it you are asking of us here, Duke?”
The duke stopped in front of Mace. “I ask that you confirm the assault and destruction of our ship.”
Mace nodded. “Your ship was destroyed.”
The duke turned, looking at Fatso Geerok. “You have Mawga aboard this ship?”
Mace replied, “He was Mawga at one time. He’s seen the tyranny of the Galactic Union now and is fighting alongside us.”
The duke frowned. “I find this deeply troubling.”
Mace said, “I know what else you will find troubling, Duke. You’ll find it troubling when we go in there and destroy those other two Muhatha.”
The duke replied, “And why would you do that, Mr. Hardy? Have you been wronged by the Dellus people? Would you leave us defenseless against the remainder of the Galactic Union?”
Mace was silent for several seconds. “I tell you what, Duke. You pull all of your Mawga thugs out of Earth space and I’ll spare those two ships.”
The duke pursed his lips. “The Mawga left your planet two days ago, Mr. Hardy. The Union is relinquishing all claims, and in the coming days will approach your King with an offer to join the Union as a founding member, having all the rights and privileges of such. We expect the agreements to be signed within days. You see, Mr. Hardy, a week ago the Targarians withdrew from the Union. It was a shock to us all. We are hoping to sign this new agreement before the Targarians move on your planet. They would not dare attack a member, risking the wrath of us all.”
Johnny laughed. “This just keeps getting better and better.”
Mace asked, “So you’re saying the Mawga are no longer in the Earth system? At all?”
The duke replied, “All personnel have been removed, Mr. Hardy. Earth is free of our influence. It is the beginning of a new dawn for your people.”
Johnny said, “You’re not buying this load, are you?”
Mace sat back in his chair. “I’m not sure what I believe any more. The rules of this game keep changing.”
Chapter 22
*
Johnny crossed his arms. “We had ten thousand Australian friends who left for the Kaachi worlds. Where are they now?”
The duke returned a confused look. “What are Australians?”
Johnny scowled. “They’re Humans. Ten thousand of them went through a wormhole to the Kaachi capital. Are you saying you know nothing about this? The Kaachi leaders said that you took them.”
The duke again began to pace. “Interesting. I had not heard such. This will mean even more questions for Admiral Dlukov.”
Mace asked, “Dlukov the supposed rogue admiral?”
The duke nodded. “He is. Forty years in the service of the Emperor. Careers for himself and all his men just thrown away.”
Mace stood. “We’ll need a few minutes to discuss things, Duke. If you’d care to follow Mr. Crawford, he’
ll take you to a quiet room while we talk.”
The duke nodded. “It would be my pleasure, Mr. Hardy.”
After the duke was led away, Mace stroked his beard. “Sounds to me like things are happening out there at a rapid pace. If Stark joins the Union, we’ll have a hard time undoing that.”
Johnny asked, “You trust this guy?”
Mace replied, “No, I don’t. But what he says may still be true. I think we need to have a talk with Stark.”
Johnny gestured toward where the duke had gone. “What do we do with this clown, and how do we find our people? The infants?”
Mace said, “Either he’s a great actor or he knows nothing about the Australians or the embryos. I think we need to talk to this Admiral Dlukov. How far are we from comm range with the Gerty?”
Liam replied, “Two hours if we travel directly there.”
Jane walked onto the bridge carrying Zax. “I’ve been listening over the comm. We have to stay on mission here. We can’t let the Mawga or Dellus or whoever continue with this barbarism.”
Mace held up a hand. “We’re trying to work through that now.”
Jane scowled. “Forget working through that. Just find out where this admiral is being held and let’s take him. I’ll get him to spill his guts.”
Johnny chuckled, “Well, aren’t you the hardliner.”
Jane turned toward Johnny, her eyes burning.
She looked back at an image of the duke’s shuttle in bay one. “If you ask me, it’s time we started kicking ass. I say we charge in, grab this dummkopf, and I’ll make sure he talks. Simple as that.”
Johnny said, “It’s Dlukov.”
Jane replied, “I know what it is, dummkopf.”
Johnny held up his hands in surrender.
Mace said, “I’m actually thinking along those same lines, but I’d like to talk to Stark first. I want to know which way he’s leaning in all this.”
Word was sent to the duke that he was being detained for several hours. His complaints fell on deaf ears.
The Rogers moved within comm range of the Gerty a short time later. “Mr. Haas. I want you to open a comm portal to Earth. I need to talk to Stark.”
Benjamin Haas replied, “Give me just a moment, Mr. Hardy… portal should be coming online any second. I’ll relay your signal from here.”
A darkened silhouette of Malcom Stark appeared on the wall display. “Mr. Hardy, I’ve been wondering when you would next contact me. Much has changed. The Mawga have pulled out. The food supplies you sent through have been a tremendous help. I anticipate a fully sustainable economy by late next year.”
Mace replied, “What are your intentions with the Union?”
Stark smiled, “I’m stringing them along at the moment. Their offer of full membership is a fair one. However, I am not interested in fair. Our world was attacked, our people killed, and I expect to extract a high toll for those transgressions. I take it since you are still in contact with me, that your freedom remains intact. Congratulations.”
Mace asked, “Are you familiar with an Admiral Dlukov? He’s a Dellus.”
Stark’s silhouette nodded. “I am. He has been instrumental in bringing this about.”
Mace frowned. “Are you also aware that we destroyed a Dellus Muhatha recently? And that Dlukov is under arrest by his government for acting without authority and losing that ship?”
Stark sighed. “He showed so much promise under my tutelage. He was a bright student. I advised him against tangling with you. His operations were supposed to remain hidden. This loss of a Muhatha, was that during the campaign against WarStation 56?”
Mace answered, “It was. He attempted to kill us and failed. He jumped away before we could finish him off. We lost two good men in that fight.”
Stark shook his head. “Had he listened to me all that could have been avoided. But two lives for a Muhatha seems a fair trade, don’t you think?”
Mace scowled. “Would you think that if they were your family members? Doubtful. And your dirty admiral, he has a lot more going on than you know of. Things are very fluid with the Galactic Union right now, Stark. If you rush to join, you might be signing your own death warrant. That Union is not as solid as they make it sound.”
Stark tapped his hand on the arm of his chair. “I appreciate your concern, Mr Hardy. But you needn’t worry. Already, our network of spies is spreading throughout the Union. It seems greed is a common theme among the stars. There are many willing to sell out their own people for the promise of comfort or coin. Dlukov had an extensive network of his own. I shall see to it that they are joined to the Human network.”
Mace asked, “Since you and Dlukov were buddies, he give you any indication of what happened to the Australians?”
Stark replied, “I’m afraid the Australians remain a mystery. I believed Dlukov to have spirited them away for his own use. However, my spies have suggested they disappeared before he was able to acquire them. They believe the Kaachi to still be holding them in reserve.”
Mace leaned forward. “The rest of our population, the new infants, how are they doing?”
Stark shifted in his chair. “They are doing well. Our plan is to start weaning them off the drugged food in another month. Not really by choice, mind you: it seems the food you had delivered comes without that component. I’ve had our scientists working to replicate it, but without success. I just hope we are able to maintain order without too much violence. I will have to say the drug made governance easy in that regard. I would have liked to have maintained its use for a bit longer.”
Mace shook his head. “You’d have kept them on it permanently if you could have. That’s one of the reasons I made sure what we were sending you was untainted. How are the infants doing?”
Stark replied, “Growing like weeds, and healthy. Our doctors made a startling discovery. It seems the eggs of every capable woman were harvested by the Mawga. There will be no more Humans until this new batch reaches maturity. And with them all being female, I foresee it as being a great time to be a man.”
Mace scratched the side of his face. “Yeah, about that. You might want to have your doctors perform a few tests. We believe our new citizens are all sterile. I think the Mawga planned to take complete control of our birthrates. I’m certain they didn’t collect every egg from every woman there, especially those who were still children, but our breeding pool has definitely been reduced dramatically.”
Stark sighed. “I see we have a new problem, then. Every woman, every female has been through their clinics. They claimed it was for health screenings, even for the young. I only now see their true purpose.”
Mace looked up in thought and then back at the comm camera. “I’m going to let you in on a secret, Stark. This one should make your blood boil. The Mawga that harvested those eggs… they fertilized nearly four billion of them and took them away. We’ve been trying to find out where.
“And to add to our troubles, they’ve been experimenting on them by gene splicing the DNA of other species into them. We saw thousands of grotesquely malformed hybrids being grown. Geerok thinks as many as five million are already being used for this purpose. If we don’t get back those embryos, we may be doomed as a species.”
Stark was silent as he clinched his fists.
Mace said, “If your spies are capable of finding out where they are, we’ll work on bringing them home.”
Stark replied, “It would seem I’ve underestimated both you and your team repeatedly, Mr. Hardy. I’ll admit to having only sought power when I started this journey, but I now see the folly of my way. We are the leaders of men… of all Mankind. It is up to us to not only defend our current population, but also to secure our future among the stars. You are a better man than I, Mr. Hardy.”
Mace sighed. “You’re still breathing. You can still make things right.”
Stark stood, his silhouette almost stepping into the light. “I shall belay my plans with the Union until we get this matter resolved. And I w
ill direct my information network to seek out answers to the whereabouts of our people, both embryos and Australians.”
Stark leaned over. “I humbly bow to the true leader of the Human race.”
The comm closed.
Johnny chuckled. “Never thought I’d see that. If we were back at the bar right now I’d be buying you a Mangrove Dark.”
Mace frowned. “I still don’t know how you drank that gutter water.”
Johnny laughed. “It had a kick at first, but you grew to love it.”
Jane shook her head. “A kick in the face, maybe. Anyway, I’m headed back to the nursery. Give me a holler if you need me.”
Mace turned. “Mr. Hobbs, take us back to the duke’s shuttle. Mr. Crawford, bring him back around, if you would.”
The Rogers spun in place and accelerated toward the new waypoint that Liam had entered. Jordan escorted the duke onto the bridge.
“Mr. Hardy, this is highly irregular. I am not only a representative of the Dellus people, I am a member of the royal house.”
Mace said, “We have a few hours before we arrive at your shuttle, Duke. You might want to have a seat.”
The duke asked, “May I at least be told where I was taken?”
Johnny replied, “You were taken to that room back there for a few hours. That’s all you need to know.”
The duke frowned.
Mace said, “We needed to confirm a few things with our people. That’s all.”
The duke asked, “There are more of you?”
Johnny held up his hands. “Here we go. You want I should space him now?”
Mace shook his head as a startled duke looked on. “We’re not spacing anyone. Relax, Duke, we’re taking you back to your ship.”
The duke inquired, “You are releasing me?”
Mace replied, “Not exactly. You’re taking us to see Admiral Dlukov.”
The Dellus duke stood. “That is out of the question. My people will not allow it. Such a request will have to first go through the proper channels.”
Mace half scowled. “It wasn’t really a request. You can either take me to see Dlukov, or I can have Mr. Tretcher there walk you to the airlock. Which would you prefer?”
HADRON Revelation Page 21
