Extinction: The Will of the Protectors

by Jay Korza

  Father nodded. “I am impressed, Captain. Most humans do not pick up on our name structures, at least not right away. And yes, your assumption is correct: they are father and daughter.”

  “In this pack, does she then call him or you Father?”

  “While we are together as a pack, she will call me Father and him Uncle. There is no disrespect in calling your parent by a different name while you are in a pack.”

  “I am honored to be allowed to see this side of Shirka life and customs. It is very interesting.”

  “When this mission is over, you and your team may visit my home and we shall exchange many more insights with each other.”

  “I look forward to that, Father.”

  Mother stepped forward. “Males, you talk too much. Let us eat and discuss things of importance, such as the mission and your experience with fighting the warriors.”

  “Females, pretty much the same no matter what species we’re talking about. Am I right?” Joker laughed but then abruptly stopped when Sister took a step towards him with her teeth bared. “Yup, women. Pretty awesome is what they are.” He put his hand up with his fingers splayed and hoped she wouldn’t bite them off.

  Surgeon just shook his head. “One day, Joker, one day.” He then motioned for his team to gather round together for the mission brief.

  ~

  Seth and Surgeon finished briefing the Shirka pack on the warriors. The Shirka had plenty of questions about their new foe and their questions led to many tactical observations that Seth had not thought about before. The exchange was beneficial to both teams.

  “Because of their personal shields,” Seth said through a mouthful of…something…the Shirkas had brought him to eat, “we have come up with two strategies to engage them. We know from our previous encounter that not all of the warriors have shields, but we don’t know why that is.” Seth picked some fur from his teeth; he decided the animal was some sort of rodent.

  Surgeon, with decades more field time than Seth, didn’t feel the need to go native and eat a rodent just to impress the Shirka pack. Surgeon finished his ravioli rations pack. “It could be a supply issue that kept them all from having one. The first warrior we encountered did have a shield but it was in a state of disrepair. Its ultimate malfunction helped us to win that fight.

  “Regardless of the reason, we need to be prepared to engage warriors who do have shields as well as those who don’t.”

  Father popped a small living insect into his mouth, dessert most likely. “From what you have told us, my pack’s strategies will not be affected by their shields. We are not using any weapons other than ourselves. Their shields will not provide them protection from our teeth and claws.”

  “I agree, Father.” Fang tried not to make it obvious that he kept looking at Huj’pa’ul, but he wasn’t doing a good job of it. “During my encounter with them, separate from the mission Captain Fields described, I could hear a faint hum that emanated from their shields. It is easily noticeable against the background noise; you will know it if you hear it. I am sure that we will know before we engage them whether or not they have shields in place. We can then give ample warning to the humans so they can adjust their tactics.”

  Seth glanced at Surgeon and cocked his head at the way Fang had said humans. Surgeon acknowledged it but gave a slight shake of his head, advising Seth to let it go for now. Fang was not trying to be disrespectful to his squad; he was trying to impress a woman and every man could understand that motivation.

  Seth heard a noise from far off. He could not tell what it was but he guessed it was probably a predator. Father, of course, also heard it and his right ear swiveled towards the sound. Without any instructions from Father, two Shirkas—Seth thought it was a cousin and a son—took off soundlessly into the night.

  “Anything we should be worried about?” Seth could not read Father’s expression or body language at all.

  “That was Uncle. The sniper team has spotted a scouting party. They are taking cover and will not engage unless they have a dire need to. My nephews will recon the scouting party and report back what they find.” Father relayed the information.

  Seth tried to mirror his counterpart’s calm. “Any idea on the enemy’s numbers?”

  “No.”

  “Time to contact?”

  “No.”

  “Should my men help set up a defensive perimeter?”

  “No.”

  “Forgive me, Father, but I am not a Shirka and I am not used to your ways. I need more information before I can feel comfortable with our current circumstances. I never keep my men in the dark. I tell them everything I can.” Seth knew he was a guest on this mission but he still needed to lead his men in a way that he was familiar with.

  Father cocked his head to the side and showed his teeth. “A leader who does not stand up for his men is no leader at all. I like you, Captain.” Father tossed Seth a dessert insect. “I apologize for my manners. My pack heard what I heard and therefore know everything I know. I did not feel the need to discuss anything with them because of that. I forgot that you and your men would not understand Uncle’s message.

  “The enemy scouts are at least ten kilometers out. They are currently not heading directly towards us so I don’t believe they are aware of our presence. Once my nephews return, we will have a much clearer idea of what they are doing.

  “And then,” Father’s eyes widened and an evil chuckle-growl escaped his lips, “we will hunt.”

  After a little more discussion, Seth decided it would be okay to allow his men to sleep in shifts. At first, each shift would get one hour of sleep. He didn’t think the nephews would be gone too long: ten kilometers, even in this terrain, was not anything difficult for an unladen Shirka. Given that they would want to be quiet and gather intelligence once contact was made, Seth figured each of the two shifts would get at least one hour of sleep each and that was better than nothing.

  A surprising four hours later and the nephew returned. “Father,” one of them began, “nothing has changed. We can easily intercept them before they make their return to base. Their brethren will never know what happened to them.”

  Seth was confused. “Nothing has changed?”

  Father looked at his nephew. “The humans cannot understand the songs of the forest or the growls of the hunt. You must tell them everything in their own language.”

  Seth realized that Father, and the rest of his pack, had been receiving intelligence from the nephews at some point during their journey back to the camp.

  “Yes, Father.” The Shirka looked at Seth and Surgeon and bowed his head in an apology. “There are four warriors hunting, approximately six kilometers in that direction.” The nephew pointed northwest of their camp.

  “Hunting?” Surgeon squatted down with the Shirka. “Are you using a Shirka euphemism or do you think they are actually hunting for food?”

  “They are hunting for food. We could not understand their language but their actions are of hunters, not of soldiers scouting. They have only bladed weapons with them, no firearms.” The nephew was trying to control his breathing; he was excited to start his own hunt.

  “Father, how do you want to proceed?” Seth wanted in on the action but he was still leery of stepping on Father’s toes. Especially with how big and sharp the claws on his toes were.

  “Do you not want in on the hunt, Captain?” Father asked.

  “Of course we do, Father.” Seth wanted to choose his next words with the utmost care. He didn’t want to seem weak with his human logic, but tactically speaking, he thought a six-man Shirka team could easily take out four warriors far more quickly and quietly than if they had humans and their guns along for the ride. “Given the terrain and distance to the target, I was unsure if you would want humans to accompany your family to what will surely be a quick and easy hunt. But if you will have us, we want to hunt as well.”

  Father growled and showed most of his teeth. “We will hunt together, Captain. I will send six o
f my pack with six of yours. The rest of us will move forward to position ourselves between the warriors and their camp. If they should break and run, or if reinforcements are sent out, we will intercept them.”

  “I will go with the hunting party,” Seth volunteered. “Fang, go get Shar’tuk, Ratchet, Joker, and Jenson.” Fang slipped away to get the rest of the team. “Surgeon, you will be in charge of the other half that will be going with Father.”

  Father looked to Surgeon. “Does it make you feel old when the cub does not let you join the hunt?”

  “No,” Surgeon laughed, “the father knows when it’s time to let the son lead the pack. Besides, you and I will have more time to nap while we wait for them to catch up to us.”

  “You are a wise father.” The older Shirka patted Surgeon on the shoulder. He then called his first son over to tell him that he was going to lead the hunting party and to take whomever he wanted with him as long as Huj’pa’ul was one of them.

  “Father, I do not need two cubs nipping at each other’s hind sides while we are on a hunt. They are already acting as though they are ready to mate.” First Son almost spat his words.

  Seth still wasn’t warming up to this Shirka. “They aren’t acting any different than the rest of us. They’re looking at each other, but that’s about it.”

  Father snorted. “To a human eyes and nose, that is all you know. But First Son is right; they are both releasing certain scents to each other. And Huj’pa’ul has thinned her fur.”

  Seth knew Shirkas could, at will, thin their fur quickly for different environments and grow it back or thicker almost as quickly. But he didn’t understand how Huj’pa’ul thinning her fur was related to Shirka flirting. “I don’t understand.”

  “Females thin their fur in particular areas when they are preparing for mating.” Father snickered.

  “Oh. Ah! I get it.” Seth blushed.

  “In a Shirka of Huj’pa’ul’s age, it is less controllable and more of a reflex to a male she finds interest in.” Father turned to his first son. “They will both be fine on the hunt. They will try to impress each other, which means they will fight harder. Do not let their eagerness put the pack in danger. It is your responsibility to keep your pack in check regardless of what is going on in their minds. Do not fail me or your pack.”

  “Yes, Father.” He looked to Seth. “Let us go, Captain. Our packs are ready.”

  Chapter 5

  Emily sat in the command center of the Cherta ship while she was reviewing mission details about the Detrill mining planets and orbiting shipyards. The president had decided to allow both Emily and Seth’s teams to use the Cherta ships to get to their targets. Emily’s trip was a couple of days longer than Seth’s, so she had more time to go over the Cherta data.

  “Have you found anything useful or interesting?” the Cherta known as Jenny asked, as she slither-walked into the room.

  Emily still was not used to the Cherta method of self-propulsion but she hid her discomfort well. Without looking up from her work, she replied, “I find it interesting that the human name you took happens to be the name of my aunt.”

  “Coincidence, I am sure.”

  “Is it also coincidence that the president’s father’s name is Steve? Seth’s favorite grandfather’s name is Jack? I haven’t figured out who Martin is supposed to represent but it is obvious these names were chosen purposely to cause some sort of emotional attachment or understanding to you as individuals.”

  Jenny smiled, or least the Cherta equivalent that Emily had come to recognize. “Or maybe our names were chosen to show just how much we know about each of you. Another example of our superiority.”

  “With an attitude like that, is it really any wonder that the Coalition does not want to be a part of your empire? Why would we subjugate ourselves to a species that believes they are superior to us?”

  “Captain, I apologize for any misunderstanding you may have towards my words. They were not meant to offend you.”

  “How could I misunderstand? Your words are very clear.”

  “Apparently not. We do not believe that our species is better than yours, or any other for that matter. We simply believe that our technology and abilities are superior, far superior, to your Coalition.”

  “I think you’re splitting hairs.” Emily sighed.

  “I am not familiar with that idiom, but I sense it means that you disagree with my assessment.” Jenny put her two upper hands together in a gesture Emily had not seen before. “We know, through the Protectors, that all life is equally important. Keeping this in mind, it does not mean we do not eat other life forms, animal and vegetable alike, because they are equally important. We must still nourish ourselves, as other beings must nourish themselves as well.

  “You are equally important as we are, as a species. But your existence in the universe is not as important as ours is. We have been chosen by the Protectors to ensure the continuity of life in this galaxy. Your Coalition stands in the way of that continuity and so it must cease to exist.” Jenny slithered to Emily and put a hand on her shoulder. “We wish to embrace your species, and all of those within the Coalition, in the arms of the Cherta Empire. You will be equals with us even though your current way of thinking does not allow you to see that as truth.”

  “How is the Coalition a threat to the continuity of the galaxy?” Emily was not onboard with the Cherta agenda but she could tell Jenny spoke with sincerity.

  “We do not know.”

  “What?” Emily was flabbergasted. “You are willing to go to war with multiple species and empires without even knowing why?”

  “We told you before that historically, we have not always followed the advice of the Protectors. We failed to do so on more than one occasion because at the time, we were given no explanation as to why we should have listened.” Jenny paused, deep in thought. “Now, thousands of years later, we can look back on those instances and see exactly why we were advised to do certain things. Our failures to follow the suggestions of the Protectors have left scars across our galaxy. Entire species are now extinct because of our choices.”

  “The Protectors punished you for not obeying?”

  “Not at all. The Protectors have never ordered us to do anything nor have they ever interfered with our galaxy on a physical level. They only ever suggest and guide. They truly are the most benevolent species we have ever encountered. They have reached a state of being that no longer requires them to care about themselves as individuals or a species. They will continue to exist throughout time and space no matter what.” Jenny sounded blissful.

  “I’m finding all of this very hard to understand or accept.” Emily was exasperated from the last several days’ worth of conversations about the Protectors.

  “I know. It does not make anything easier when we do not fully understand them ourselves. We only know for sure that they have our best interests, every species in every galaxy’s best interests, in their hearts.” Jenny placed her hand on top of Emily’s.

  Emily allowed the Cherta hand to rest on hers for a moment before she pulled away. “If you are so powerful and technologically advanced, why don’t you just wipe out the Coalition?” Emily had seen only a fraction of their military technology and knew it wouldn’t be that hard for them to do.

  “We do not want to wipe you out, as you put it. The Protectors want you with us, not against or separate from.” As the Minister of Soldiers, Jenny knew that she should not give out tactical information. But she thought it might give Emily a better insight to how the Protectors worked and maybe help to bridge the gap between them. “And we are not allowed to wipe you out.”

  “What? Allowed? Who’s stopping you?” Emily leaned back in her chair. “I thought the Protectors didn’t tell you what to do?”

  “They do not. They suggest. Our inability to use our superior technology to ‘wipe’ you out is based on philosophical beliefs that are in part derived from teachings from the Protectors.”

  “Go on.” Em
ily was interested in this new development.

  “If we wanted to, we could use our technology to systematically destroy Coalition planets. And we could do so without ever endangering a single citizen from the Cherta Empire.”

  “If you could actually destroy an entire planet…”

  “We can.”

  Emily suppressed the urge to lecture Jenny on conversational manners and just continued with her thought. “Doing so, even once, would capitulate the Coalition into surrendering. I’m not advocating the destruction of a Coalition planet, but the simple math is that would probably save lives in the end, especially if you targeted a planet with a small population.”

  “True. But if we wielded our power to destroy life without endangering our own, what would we become?”

  “The winner?”

  “Militarily speaking, you are correct. But morally, we would lose. To destroy life without risking your own is a path to darkness we have taken once before and we will not take again. We will only ever fight with the level of technology that our adversaries possess.”

  “But both sides will lose millions, possibly billions in this war that we are so casually discussing but is none the less eminent.”

  “True again. If we, as a species or empire, have nothing to lose, what would there be to stop us from becoming the tyrants that the Nortes Empire became when they used the warriors to do their dirty work? Because the Nortes did not have to lose their own lives, they did not care that others were losing theirs.

  “By us using the same level of technology that the Coalition possesses, we will ensure the Cherta Empire sustains huge military and civilian losses. And in doing so, we will not be able to forget that war is a horrible thing, that war should be avoided at all costs, that war is a last resort when other beings will not abide by the suggestions of the Protectors. Death, as horrible as it is, serves as an important reminder to those who would abuse their power.”