Ahead Full (The Kurtherian Gambit Book 19)

by Michael Anderle

  Levelot turned toward Var’ence. “Is there something important?”

  Var’ence had pulled out her communications device, and now looked up. “Yes.”

  Levelot pointed toward the screens along the walls. “Share.”

  Var’ence tapped a command on her tablet and the eight screens around the walls turned on, each showing the same white-haired monstrosity that had been harassing their efforts for decades now.

  Baba Yaga looked into the camera, her eyes red and her teeth showing as she smiled. “Hello, Phraim-‘Eh Clan Leaders,” she hissed. “I’m happy to say that the promise the Empress made so long ago is now coming true.”

  The face in the screen cocked its head. “But what promise is this?” She laughed. “You mean you didn’t share the news with the rest of those on this world? Here, let me rectify that shortcoming on your part!”

  A video of Bethany Anne came up on screen. The enemy empress stood on the podium that had been built for her at the center of the bottom floor of the Open Court in the QBBS Meredith Reynolds. She was surrounded by her people and her Guardians. The human empress looked out over those standing at the level she was on, as well as turning her head to look up at the Etherians on the higher levels of the Court.

  She gazed at the video cameras. “Merrek is now free of Leath. The last thousand or two were entombed forever as a pointed reminder that you do not disrespect my warriors.” Her eyes glimmered red, sparking from time to time. “We have personal confirmation of their deaths, and have provided video of the events to those news agencies which adhere to the truth.”

  The human empress turned her head to her left, then to her right.

  “The Leath military treated our fallen in the most despicable ways possible, and we have replied. We killed everyone responsible for committing the atrocities, and all Leath who worked to subjugate Merrek to satisfy their own ambitions.”

  “However,” she continued, and her visage changed, her eyes taking center stage as they glowed with power, “let me explain that our real fight is with the Kurtherians of the Phraim-’Eh Clan, one of the seven Kurtherian clans. The Etheric Empire has declared war to the knife with that clan, not with the Leath who have been subjugated by these aliens, acting as their ‘gods’ for generations. To those Kurtherians I say, know that I am committing our complete focus to your eradication, to uprooting you and killing you one by one, however long it takes. Should you seek safety, I will attack your hiding places until I find you and kill you.”

  Her face crackled with energy, vehemence dripping from her words. “I have been granted a long life, and I will use that life to make sure you suffer for killing my people, both on Earth and in space. Every member of your clan is now our enemy. You wanted to see if you were good enough to help a species? Well, you failed. Congratulations! You now have the attention of the Etheric Empire and the Queen Bitch.”

  Her hair floated in the calm air as the cameras focused on her face. “Baba Yaga is coming,” she assured the galactic audience. The human empress’ face disappeared, to be replaced by the ink-black face of the one who had first spoken on the video that was being broadcast system-wide.

  “For those who do not know me,” the face hissed in a grating voice, “I am Baba Yaga, the Witch of the Empire, the Avatar of the Empress, and the one who deals out her Justice. I am here to free the Leath from the subjugation of the Seven. Those who had originally been called…”

  Her voice changed, and her visage calmed as another seemed to rise to the surface as the Seven watched.

  “Hello, Phraim-‘Eh Clan Leaders.” The much calmer voice came out of the same mouth.

  “My name is…” Then the voice spoke in a different language, one that only seven on the whole planet understood. “I am from Clan Essiehkor. The Five have judged your clan, and now we bring the Justice of Righteousness as handed down from the Court of Perfection in the Year 27,672 when you were sentenced.”

  The five Kurtherians in the room were frozen in shock at the realization that another Kurtherian was speaking to them, causing each mental pain as the truth demolished all the assumptions they’d had about the Empire.

  The voice continued speaking from the Empire’s Witch. “Justice has been decreed, and now Justice has found you. You may think I will not be able to offer you violence…”

  The voice changed back to the woman’s, deep, guttural, and awful in its truth, “but I can. And I will.” She looked from left to right, as if she were seeing each in their chairs.

  “Baba Yaga is coming…”

  The video cut off.

  The silence in the room was complete for a while before Levelot stood up. “Kill that human immediately,” she said before she turned and walked out, leaving the others to accomplish her edict.

  In the hallway, she swept toward her suite. “No one judges Phraim-‘Eh… No one.”

  —

  Captain Mel’nij of the YahmaKaz watched as the countdown continued on his right screen. “FIRE!” he commanded, and twelve missiles left his ship, accelerating toward the small fighters in the distance and the carrier they were undoubtedly trying to rendezvous with.

  A system-wide message overrode his secondary screen, and his eyes flicked to the left before returning a second time to re-read the message.

  “ALL SHIPS, TRACK AND ATTACK ALL INVADERS UNTIL CONFIRMED DEAD.”

  Above the planet the last two battleships fired their already warmed-up engines, pulling away from the gravity well of the planet.

  —

  “Well, fuck,” Bethany Anne murmured to herself.

  TOM, do we have the ability to tweak the missiles for those ships?

  Yes, TOM admitted, but it might be close. I’m going to have to guess a little on the calculations.

  What about ADAM?

  He is busy focusing on the pucks to protect the fighters at the moment, TOM replied. Besides, I’m going to have to use some gut-guessing.

  Bethany Anne processed his comment a moment. You are going to start guessing with your gut NOW?

  It makes me more human, I’m told, TOM told her. Besides, after having to speak to those assholes, I need something to get the taste out of my mouth.

  Now you’re cussing, too? Bethany Anne shook herself. Who are you, really?

  There was a pause in the communication as back near the planet a total of twenty-seven slender missiles, their payload strictly a massive amount of momentum and their own weight, slammed into the two battleships which had just left their stationary orbit. Five more flew past, missing them entirely.

  However, it was more than enough to overcome the shields which, they had realized too late, were under attack. The battleships dropped their speeds as damage raged uncontrolled throughout.

  A few minutes later one exploded, killing all on board.

  Baba Yaga made the sign of the cross over her heart.

  We tried, Bethany Anne, TOM reminded her. That was why they didn’t have warheads too.

  >>There is a sixty-eight-point-four-percent chance the other can overcome their damage.<< ADAM added.

  Thanks, guys, Bethany Anne sent them both. We are trying to reduce deaths, but not at the expense of my own people.

  Leath Battleship YahmaKaz

  Captain Mel’nij of the YahmaKaz hung his head. “That was what they were doing,” he muttered to himself before raising his head. He tapped the in-ship comm. “Ready the missiles. We will continue firing until these killers are dead, or we are!”

  Near QBS Trojan Horse

  “Put some fire to your asses, folks!” Julianna called out as the second group, also back from firing their missiles at the battleships, whooped at the destruction behind them. “Let’s not make this a Pyrrhic victory!”

  “And piss off the Empress,” Baba Yaga added. “I am sending you instructions now. Do not be surprised when…”

  Julianna heard someone curse over the frequency.

  “Your ships are taken over,” Baba Yaga finished. “It is going to be clo
se.”

  Behind their fighters, the missiles were closing fast. Julianna and all her people were trusting the Witch with their lives.

  Not that they had any choice in the matter. She couldn’t control her ship anyway.

  “WOOHOO!” Billy called when the closest missile to the rear of the formation exploded. “Gott Verdammt! I was squeezing my ass so tight I could chew steel and shit nails!”

  Three more missiles exploded behind them. Baba Yaga spoke again, “You have control back now. Don’t fuck it up.”

  “You heard the woman!” Julianna resumed control of her ship and the twenty-six fighters flew past the Trojan Horse, all within two fighter-lengths of the hull. They continued flying like bats out of hell to catch up to the Shinigami, which was supposed to be ahead of them somewhere.

  The Trojan Horse started moving up slightly, turning toward the missiles.

  Moments later eight missiles slammed into the carrier, blowing it into its constituent atoms. The effect was enhanced by the extra explosives that had been placed around the ship to make sure none of the technology could be recovered if the Leath did a bad job hitting the ship.

  The effort had been unnecessary. The Leath destroyed it very well indeed.

  Leath Battleship YahmaKaz

  “Yes!” Missiles Prime yelled when the carrier exploded.

  Captain Mel’nij, watching the commands his other Battleship captains were following, called, “Now find me those fighters!”

  The four Battleships were approaching fast as six carriers, seven more destroyers and twelve sub-battleships started to converge on the enemies.

  “Sir, they are heading toward the Expansion Gate!”

  “Change course, head in that direction,” Captain Mel’nij commanded as he sent the information to the other captains. Across their space, twenty-nine ships turned their bows toward the Gate.

  Planet Leath, Tienemehn, the Seven’s Private Area

  Behome’t turned his eyes from his tablet and spoke to the other three at the table. “The destination of the gate has been changed.”

  “How is that possible?” Fourth of the Seven Zill asked. “Did you send that information to Terellet?”

  “I have now,” Second of the Seven Behome’t replied.

  “If they get to that new location we will have to call off our ships.”

  “It is obviously a trap,” Chrio’set, Fifth of the Seven, agreed.

  Leath, Outside Primary City

  Jerrleck sent the final commands and smiled. Inside this little metal shed bathed in orange light, he had finished what his love had started and changed the future of his people.

  He hoped.

  He bent over and stuck a hand in his backpack, pulling out a dirty pair of underwear and tossing them to the side. After today, perhaps he could buy something new in all the confusion.

  Or not.

  Either way, he didn’t want them in his way anymore and he continued to search until he found the little memory stick. He brought the stick to his mouth and kissed it. Then he leaned forward and stuck it in the slot for upload and turned to his right, flicking two switches and pushing a button.

  He started to lean back, and that was when hell hit him. His nerves burned as if they were on fire and electricity arced through his body, causing convulsions and pain as his muscles spasmed. He found himself on the floor, blood in his mouth from his teeth biting his tongue.

  He groaned and turned toward the light coming from the door. His eyes, barely his own to control, looked up from the floor to see a robed figure standing there.

  Jerrleck coughed as he tried to smile. “Hello, asshole,” he got out. “I’m baaack!”

  Terellet. This time half the face grinned in delight and half showed anger as her / him / it stepped into the little shed and shut the door. The screams coming from within could be heard for hundreds of paces in every direction.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Planet Leath, Outside Primary City

  Terellet looked down at the previous Prime of Intelligence and pursed her / his / its lips. “You have much to answer for.”

  “No, you and the other six have,” Jerrleck responded, coughing up blood. “Next time you wipe someone’s mind, you need to do a better job of it.”

  “I will inform Torik of his mistakes,” Terellet agreed amiably. The voice would come out as female, then switch to male, then change to something ambiguous. “You have a strong body. Perhaps it is strong enough to facilitate a transfer.”

  “Transfer of what?” Jerrleck painfully turned his head to see a Leath’s face staring at him, the cowl on the head having been pushed back. “You fucking bastards!” He tried to scream as he willed his legs to move, attempting to kick the Leath female in front of him.

  The Kurtherian was wearing his love’s body.

  “But wouldn’t it be a union of perfection to separate myself and Gorllet back into you and your previous rebellion leader’s body?” Terellet asked in a sing-song voice. “I myself see symmetry in that.” It cocked its head and a male voice emanated. “I will wear your body for the next hundred years and everyone will believe I am you, substandard creature. Your sacrifice will allow the Leath to move forward from this present failure to advancement.” The female’s voice came back. “It is true. Thousands are dying right now above us. Your Navy’s Battleships were caught in a trap set by those you helped.”

  “What is it you Seven tell us all the time?” Jerrleck gasped out. “’Some sacrifices have to be made in the effort to Ascend?’”

  “Yes.” Terellet nodded. “That is true,” he replied in a soft voice.

  “Then you won’t mind being the sacrifices yourselves, right?” Jerrleck asked. Terellet wore a smile on her / his / its face until it considered the words and narrowed its eyes at Jerrleck.

  Jerrleck screamed in pain as Terellet raided his mind, ripping through the minor mod protection he had figured out and surrendered the truth to the Kurtherian. Terellet’s eyes went to the controls on the desk and stepped forward, hand stretching out to yank out the memory stick that Jerrleck had connected.

  She / he / it looked back down as the Leath on the floor started laughing.

  “Too late, you alien-infested zombie,” Jerrleck got out before his screaming started once again.

  Leath System, Expansion Gate

  “Damn,” Baba Yaga mouthed beside Captain Ni’ers J’onghe. “That is huge.”

  “Expansion gates are very substantial,” he agreed. “It is one of the reasons they are so rarely built.”

  “I want it!” she cried in sudden understanding. She turned to her left. “Send out the command! No one is to destroy that gate,” she said and pointed toward the front screens, which had the massive gate in view.

  “We need to go through it,” Ni’ers asked, perplexed. “Why would we destroy it?”

  “Sorry,” the Witch answered. “I was speaking to more than just you.”

  “I heard and understand,” Shinigami said.

  Baba Yaga winked at the Yollin captain, who carefully turned back to his own controls. Please don’t let me go crazy, please don’t let me go crazy, he kept saying over and over in his mind.

  Baba Yaga sent the command to allow her to speak to the group. “Folks, this is the part where we find out if we are successful or fucked. If you have any gods, please pray to them at this time. Let’s hope our plans are in place.”

  With twenty-nine massive Leath ships behind them, the twenty-six fighters and one black ship hit the gate, screaming forward to stay ahead of the enemy.

  K’llereck System

  Those on the fourth planet had lived in fear since the great device appeared in their heavens many seasons ago. Now those that watched the activity in the heavens started sending messages back and forth across their world.

  They had the ability to see into the heavens, and even send small packages off their world, but they had nothing like the immense object that had appeared one inauspicious night.

  N
othing in any of the religions of the planet had foretold of this event, and any that tried to associate the object with a foretelling seemed to choose a dire one.

  Evil had come.

  The governments around the world called each other, deciding how to prepare against an invasion which now seemed imminent, given all the activity in the past week around the glowing ring in space. Many had tried to reach out to those in space, but nothing was ever returned.

  It was apparently their lot in life to wait until the visitors chose to land and speak with them.

  —

  “Move along, little doggies,” Bethany Anne said as the Shinigami slowly passed the fighters.

  >>I’ve finished the calculations. There is nothing the ships behind us can fire which will hurt the fighters. They are not willing, it seems, to fire toward the gate.<<

  Bethany Anne marveled at the size of the object. “No shit! I wouldn’t either,” she said aloud, ignoring the look she received from Captain Ni’ers J’onghe. There was no downside to Baba Yaga’s being considered a bit crazy.

  A chuff brought her attention back to the bridge, and she turned her head and raised an eyebrow. “What, you aren’t going to ask permission to join me on the bridge?”

  I thought that was a human thing, Ashur sent.

  I’ll give you ‘human thing’, you walking flea carpet. She turned back to the screens. Lock yourself in. The Empress would be annoyed if you started floating around the bridge during a space battle.

  Ashur yawned and walked toward a separate couch to Baba Yaga’s right. Jumping on, he turned around and laid down. His armor covered his body.

  Do you remember how to eject? she asked him as Shinigami started to pull ahead of the fighters. We are going to hit the gate first, and if they can zap us we might be in outer space sucking vacuum faster than you can blink your eye.

  I can blink my eye pretty quickly, Ashur retorted. Not quicker than you can slap me, though, so don’t ask.

  Bethany Anne smirked. Maybe old dogs can learn new tricks.