Calvin shaded his eyes to get a better look. Where the doors to the structure had stood open the day before, today they were closed and two of the largest Jotunn Calvin had seen stood in front of them. The giants were clad in leather armor, except for spiked metal gauntlets and boots that shone in the wan sunlight. A punch or kick could easily skewer a couple Terrans at the same time. Even more threatening were the massive halberds they held at the ready. Both were grim-faced and alert. If the Jotunn were trying to intimidate them, Calvin thought, it was working.
“Yeah,” Calvin said, “try not to piss them off, all right? They look like they’re ready for war.”
“I’ll think about it,” Lieutenant O’Leary replied.
“Do I need to make that an order?” Captain Sheppard asked.
“No sir,” O’Leary muttered as they drew near to the structure and the massive door guards. “I’ll be a good boy.”
As the Terrans approached, both giants snapped to attention.
“I am Hraesveglur, Guardian of the Gates,” bellowed the giant on the left. “State your names and purpose.”
“My name is Captain James Sheppard,” the CO replied. He tried to imitate the tone of the guard but couldn’t approach it in contempt or volume. “I am the commanding officer of the Terran ship Vella Gulf. With me are Lieutenant Commander Shawn Hobbs, Captain Paul Train and First Lieutenant Ryan O’Leary. We have come to speak with the Council of Jarls.”
“You are expected,” Hraesveglur replied. “You may enter.”
The Jotnar on the right spun around, threw open the door behind him and announced the Terrans.
The group continued into the longhouse to find the interior had changed as well. A large platform had been erected which ran down the left side of the longhouse floor. As the group approached, Calvin could see the platform held nine chairs, although only the five in the center were occupied. A man sat in the central chair, which was larger than the rest. Two men waited to his left, including Captain Oleif Magnusson; a man and a woman sat to his right. The 20-foot-high platform wasn’t overly large by Jotunn standards, but by human standards it was immense; the humans had to look 30 feet above them to make eye contact with the Jotunn.
Like the door guards, none of the giants looked entirely pleased to see the Terrans.
“Welcome, emissaries of Terra,” the giant in the center said as the group approached. “I am Mimir, Odin of the Jotunn.” He motioned to the two men to his left. “With me on the Council of Jarls are Baugi and Oleif. On my right are Surt and Angrboda, wife of Loki. She is here in his place until a final determination is made about his fate. Normally we are nine, but two are away and two others have not survived contact with your race.”
“Greetings, Odin. I am pleased to be able to speak with you and the council today. There are many things we have to discuss which I feel will be beneficial to both our nations.”
“We have granted you permission to speak based on the contest of champions yesterday,” the Odin said; “however, do not assume we have ears ready to listen to any proposals you intend to make. Everyone here has personally felt your coming in the loss of those we loved, no less than Angrboda, who has now lost both a son and a husband to you.”
“Both of those are a tragedy, of course,” Captain Shepard replied, “and we would have avoided them at all costs; however, in both of those cases, we were not to blame. They attacked us and were killed when we defended ourselves. We do not desire any further bloodshed between our two civilizations. We would rather have peace.”
“It is easy for you to say you were wrongly attacked,” Angrboda said, “but how are we to know if that is true? Perhaps you gave them offense, and they felt honor-bound to reply.”
“That is not the case,” Captain Sheppard replied. “In the case of your husband, we were by ourselves in the other universe, and his ship jumped in and attacked us.”
“Well of course they did,” Angrboda replied. “You were assaulting our home planet; how could they do otherwise?”
“All we were doing was trying to get some of our crew back from onboard the Falcon. We asked to talk, but instead they replied with missiles. We were forced to defend ourselves, and Loki and his ship were destroyed in the fighting.”
“With no survivors?” Captain Magnusson asked. “Isn’t it odd to have a battle where no one survives?”
“It is not unknown for that to happen,” Captain Sheppard said. “Our weapons are powerful.”
“Our allies have powerful weapons too,” the Odin said. “They are powerful enough to affect time itself.”
“I know,” Captain Sheppard boasted. “We have fought them and defeated them on many occasions. Just like their ability to jump between the universes, we have also acquired their ability to use time-based weapons.” He shrugged. “They must not be very good allies if they haven’t given you the secrets to these things.”
“That is a point of some contention,” the Odin agreed. “We have asked on many occasions; however, I believe they are afraid of what we might do if we could get to their home world.”
“Having been tricked by your countrymen on a couple of occasions,” Captain Sheppard said, “I’m not sure I can blame them. Not having the ability to jump between universes probably keeps you from destroying their home world.”
“Truth,” Captain Magnusson said. “There are many times I have had to accept insults from them because I knew there was nothing I could do to them. When a nation can destroy your planet, and you can’t stop them, there are times when insults must be borne.”
“We also have this ability,” Captain Sheppard said; “however, we have not insulted you or threatened to use it on you.”
“That has not gone unnoticed,” the Odin said, “which is one of the reasons we have allowed you to speak.”
“I thought we were allowed to speak because I killed your champion.” Night interjected.
“That is no more than anyone else who made contact with us has had to do to prove their worth,” the Odin replied. “We gave you the opportunity because you hadn’t threatened us, even though you had the power to do so. You chose not to dictate terms to us as a conqueror, but to approach us as equals. We were curious as to why this was.”
Calvin saw O’Leary’s face go red as Captain Sheppard replied, “We are interested in long-term relations with you, not war. The war you have with the Aesir is a drain on both of your societies, and it is one I think is past time to end. We would be willing to help negotiate a settlement for you.”
“With the Aesir?” Surt asked. “The only good Aesir is a dead one.”
“Let us stick to the matter at hand,” the Odin said, “as that issue is greatly beyond our level of trust in you at the moment. We may never trust you to intervene in matters so grave, but that is a question for the future, and today is not that. Why are you here?”
“To be blunt, we are here today to ask you to reconsider your alliance with the Shaitans,” Captain Sheppard said. “We believe it is in the best interests of both of our civilizations for you to do so.”
“Just turn our backs on our friends?” the Odin asked. “You ask much and presume more.”
Captain Sheppard shook his head. “No, Odin, I do not ask for much, other than a chance to help you see that the Shaitans are not your friends, as you would have us believe.”
“I know they aren’t your friends,” Calvin said, “because I have listened to you talk. When I was onboard the Falcon, I heard Captain Magnusson speaking with the captain of the Shaitan ship. The discussion they had was not one held between allies, but between a ruler and the ruled. The Shaitans told your captain what he had to do, offering him insults throughout. I have worked with our allies on a number of occasions, and we have never spoken in such a manner.”
“Truth.” Captain Magnusson said. “There are many times where I have been close to open feud with them, and the taste it has left in my mouth is galling.”
“Not only do the Shaitans treat you poorly,”
Captain Sheppard added, “they are also causing you to lose your honor. Since when has it ever been okay to wipe out entire races like they are having you do to the Ssselipsssiss? I have spoken with a couple of the Shaitans, and they do not honor life the way we do. I’ll bet they’ve already spoken with you about what happens after the Ssselipsssiss are eliminated. What next? Eliminate the Mrowry? Terra? I’ll bet their goal is to wipe out the next race, and the next and the next.”
“It is to be Terra,” Captain Magnusson said. “They hate your race more than any other.”
“Not only do they hate us,” Captain Sheppard said, “they fear us. Why do you suppose we’re next? We’re the only ones who have destroyed any of their ships! Not only that, we’re the only ones who have shown an ability to get to their universe. I’m sure they are very afraid of us. They have no idea what we are capable of; I’m sure they are worried we might give you that secret too, and then they would lose their best ally. Of course we have to be destroyed next—we’re their biggest threat.”
“Truth,” Captain Magnusson said; “however, the same can be said from our perspective. You are also our biggest threat. Just like the Shaitans, we cannot bring you to battle if you do not choose it; you simply jump to their universe and escape. While they are our allies, they present a balancing force to your nation. Without them, there is nothing we can do to stop you.”
“That is certainly true,” Captain Sheppard conceded; “however, you have to look at the motives involved. We are allies with a number of races like the Mrowry, the Aesir and the Archons. Never once have we taken any of their planets or tried to steal any of their technology. In fact, there are a number of technologies we have shared with the Mrowry, including the jump technology which you seek. What have the Shaitans shared with you? Of all of the planets you’ve conquered, how many have they given to you? If the answer to those questions is anything other than ‘zero,’ we will leave right now, as I have underestimated their value as an ally.”
“You needn’t leave,” the Odin replied. “You are correct; they have neither shared any of their technology with us nor told us we could settle on any of the conquered planets.”
“And why do you think that is?”
“Because they are afraid of us,” Surt said, “as well they should be!”
“I see,” Captain Sheppard said. He cocked his head and looked puzzled. “The question I have for you then is, what do the Shaitans do with races they are afraid of? For example, what do they want to do with Terra?”
“Eliminate you,” Captain Magnusson said. “I believe they said every Terran must be killed and all of your planets burned.”
“Uh huh,” Captain Sheppard said, nodding his head. “And what do you think happens when there are no more Terrans for you to kill and your usefulness as an ally declines?”
“They will turn on us next,” Baugi said. His voice was quiet…muted…thoughtful. “Once they no longer need us, they will turn on us too.”
“I don’t think I’m telling you something you don’t already suspect,” Captain Sheppard said; “otherwise, Loki wouldn’t have taken one of their ships. I think you know what I’m saying is true, even if you aren’t prepared to admit it to yourselves yet.” He paused to let that sink in.
“Skipper, did you say you’d spoken to the Shaitan?” Calvin asked into the silence.
“Yes, we captured a couple of them. One is a pilot and the other is one of their ground forces.”
“Have you translated their language?”
“I think so,” Captain Sheppard replied. “Solomon said that he was pretty sure he had been able to break it. Why?”
“Because I recorded something that might shed some light on the Shaitans’ motives.” He looked up at the Odin. “Do you have a method of playing a recording?”
“Of course,” the Odin said. “What do you take us for, rubes from the country?” He pushed a button on the arm of his chair and a screen sprang up behind them.
“Solomon,” Calvin commed, “please get in touch with the Ssselipsssiss Paxton and get his copy of the argument we recorded between the two Shaitan officers. Translate it and work out a method of sending it to whatever AI manages the technology here in the longhouse. Can you do that?”
“Yes I can. In fact, I already have the recording and have it translated. Negotiating access…done. Just let me know when you would like it to play.”
“Now, please.”
“Coming.”
The screen lit up to show two Shaitan officers. “This is a conversation recorded onboard the Falcon between Captain Tectamus and Admiral Zeontes,” Calvin narrated. “It occurred after Captain Magnusson stepped out of the room.”
“I remember that,” Captain Magnusson said. “That looks like them and my conference room where the meeting was held.”
“The recording has been translated by our artificial intelligence, which has been studying the language of the Shaitan. Here we go.” The recording began playing.
“I will be glad when we no longer have to maintain the appearance of friendship with the Jotunn,” Captain Tectamus said. “It will be a happy day when we can kill them all.”
“Until that time, we must not antagonize them,” Admiral Zeontes warned. “I do not care to have to fight the Jotunn at the same time as the Ssselipsssiss and the Terrans. Especially the Terrans.”
“But we are going to kill them, right?”
“The high lord has decreed that everyone in this universe is an abomination and an affront to our gods. They must all be destroyed, and that includes the Jotunn. Now that the Terrans have shown an ability to come into our holy universe and pollute it with their presence, their destruction has to be the priority…and to do so, we need the Jotunn to assist us. They are better equipped to take on the bigger ships of the Terran navy.”
“But then we’re going to kill them?”
“Absolutely. Everyone in this universe must be destroyed.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Odin’s Longhouse, Jotunheimr, Jotunheimr System, December 27, 2021
“It appears the Shaitans leave something to be desired as allies,” Captain Magnusson noted. “To say that on my ship with me just on the other side of the door…” He looked down the row to the Odin. “I will have some difficulty fighting alongside them ever again.”
“I think it is apparent we have been betrayed,” the Odin said, “assuming that is an honest translation of what was said?” He looked at Calvin with a raised eyebrow.
“Solomon, how sure are you about that translation?”
“I am not sure if the word ‘holy’ is correct, but it appeared to be the most accurate translation, based on the cultural norms of Terran linguistics,” the AI replied. “Aside from that, I am over 97% confident that is what the Shaitan officers said.”
“Thanks; that was a big help.”
Calvin nodded. “Yes, Odin, my AI confirms that is an accurate translation, to the best of its considerable abilities. Honestly, though, their intentions are no different than what we already figured…although the reason behind them is new.”
“So it comes down to a matter of the gods, then,” the Odin said; “theirs against ours for who lives and who dies. As I am not quite ready to make the journey to Valhalla, I think it is time to betray the betrayers before they can do the same to us.”
“Aren’t you angry?” Calvin asked. “You don’t seem at all disturbed by the fact that they were going to turn on you.”
“Oh, we are indeed angry,” the Odin replied; “however, my blood sings to me in preparation for battle. I have long hated this alliance; now we can break it with honor and destroy the betrayers from surprise. Yes, I am full of anger, but I am holding it close inside to use on my foe with my axe and my sword.”
The Odin laughed. “The joy of battle is upon me, and we will bring down Hel on the traitorous bastards. Cry havoc and let slip the hounds of war!” He laughed again and was joined by the rest of the council.
Eventually, t
he laughter wound down, and the Odin wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. “You are not much of a warrior, though, if you came here to tell us this without having a plan,” he said to Captain Sheppard. “What are your intentions?”
“We are going to find the home world of the Shaitans and convince them, by force if necessary, to give up this war. Failing that, we will do everything in our power to destroy them and ensure they no longer have the ability to wage war on our universe.”
“You may be small, Terrans, but you are full of spirit,” the Odin said. “You intend to do all of this with your one little ship?”
“With all due respect, that little ship has been the bane of your plans for some time now,” Captain Sheppard said, “and has been successful in battle against a number of foes. The strength of the ship doesn’t come from its size, but from the ingenuity of its crew and the many different approaches we bring to warfare. We are only standing here now because we have beaten your forces twice.”
“So you think you can find their planet and convince them to quit fighting?” the Odin asked. “While you may be able to do the first, I believe you will find the second objective to be impossible. Although I haven’t personally met their ruler, the emissary who survived speaking with him said High Lord Sarpedon is crazy. Worse, he has a huge number of loyal supporters who carry out his every whim. I do not believe you will convince him to change his ways, nor will you survive the effort. Anyone who displeases him is killed.”
“In that case, I cannot tell you what we will do until we get there,” Captain Sheppard said. “What I can tell you is our race values life, all life, and that it is not my intention to destroy their planet unless there is no other way to end this war.”
“If you want to end the war, then you must be prepared to destroy their planet,” the Odin replied. “There is no other way.”
“If that is what we must do, then so be it,” Captain Sheppard said.
“I fear that it will not be as easy as you make it sound,” Captain Magnusson warned. “I have been there, and I can tell you their planet is well defended. There are stargate defenses in our universe and a variety of space-based defenses around the planet in theirs. You will need to be even more industrious than you make yourselves out to be; you may have a few seconds to make your plea to surrender before you are destroyed, but that will be about it.”
The Dark Star War (Codex Regius Book 3) Page 25
