by James Somers
Normally, Kale might have suspected his food to be poisoned, but his personal scanner had detected nothing dangerous in the meal. It did little to console him about the possibility of the Baruk killing him. He looked at his blade upon the hard slab the Baruk called a bed. Picking up the blade, he examined it a moment. This blade was his life. Kale knew he could never trust the Baruk and even if he could, he did not want to remain among them. But how could he escape? They had control of his ship. He heard heavy footsteps approaching his quarters.
The door opened up before the Baruk warrior. Housra quickly moved inside with his compression gun ready to terminate the Barudii on sight. The room appeared to be empty.
Kale looked down on the Baruk warrior from the ceiling of the compartment. He clung there using the Way. The compression weapon used by the Baruk clan swung from side to side as the warrior surveyed the compartment, stopping to examine the half eaten meal.
Kale dropped down with his blade. Housra whirled around, bringing his gun to bear upon the Barudii. The blade divided the weapon before he could fire. The living exoskeleton sprang outward from the Baruk, striking Kale.
He was smashed backwards into the door of the compartment but managed to strike back furiously with the Way. The Baruk crashed hard into the other wall, but was stabilized quickly by the morphing exoskeleton. It had appeared solid, but now morphed into obscene appendages trying to protect its host.
Kale brought his blade between himself and the Baruk. The symbiotic creature was reared up in a posture of aggression as it sought to strike. One of the appendages lashed out. Kale struck it with his sword. It recoiled. He moved in again, striking at the hovering tentacles and landing a blow to the warrior’s leg, severing it completely.
Another appendage knocked Kale into the table as the Baruk fell from his wound. The morphing tentacle smashed the table flat as Kale rolled away. If Lucin had sent this warrior to kill him then more would quickly follow. He had to get off of this ship as quickly as possible.
Kale bolted out the door, leaving the maimed warrior and his symbiotic protector as far behind as he could. Now he just had to figure out how to get to his ship and off of this vessel alive.
Estall stared at the information coming onto the display as Ranul keyed in the various retrieval commands. Probe number: 2041 was transmitting its information on a coded band. He studied the incoming data carefully. Looking over Ranul’s shoulder, Estall attempted to understand what the transmission contained, but Ranul was scanning the data too fast for him to be able to put it all together.
“Well?”
“Well, what?”
“Are you going to share with the rest of us?” Estall asked.
“Oh!” he said as though he had forgotten others were in the communications room with him. “The probe beyond the star Casiss has picked up a group of objects. After long range scans, it has concluded that the objects are in fact very large space cruisers on a course for Castai.”
“The Baruk, I suppose.”
“Well, I don’t think there’s any other possibility. According to Vorn records, the return flight path would concur.”
“Well, we’ve been training for a fight. Looks like we’ve got one.”
The council buildings were as luxurious as any Tiet had seen among the Vorn cities. This one in Baeth Periege was perhaps the most beautiful of them all. He passed through the main hall on his way toward the meeting chamber. It was lined on either side by troops he had helped to train in recent months.
They look very sharp in there uniforms, he thought. It was nice to see the peace between the Castillians and the Vorn illustrated in the new standing army.
Why did Wynn insist on trying to push him onto the throne? He certainly did not see himself as a king. He was just a young man, still in training himself-not a great man like his father. Tiet wished his father was still alive to lead this great people. He would’ve known what to do.
Tiet wished he had been able to really know his father. His brother-the thought cut him to the heart-if he ever saw his brother again, he would avenge his father’s death and Orin’s.
Too bad the coward had taken off before he realized who Kale was. Tiet would have killed him. That thought gave him little joy, but it seemed to satisfy his anger to some degree. Two of the acting guards opened the large main doors allowing him into the council chamber.
The ceiling was three stories high in the main hall. Tiet saw that it was even higher within the meeting chamber as the doors parted before him. They revealed a very large circular room with a dome at the top. The Council of Twelve, along with their various advisers, was seated along the outer portion of the room slightly above the dais where Tiet was to stand in the middle of the room to be addressed by the Council.
As Tiet made his way, he saw that the session was already beginning-apparently everyone had been waiting for him to arrive. As Tiet walked in, many people began to cheer and clap. This was not the sort of entrance he had expected or wanted.
He didn’t feel he deserved any applause. What had he done to deserve it, besides being born to a certain family and people? Tiet spotted Wynn. He was seated near the delegate for the city of Baeth Periege with Daooth Pasad. Daooth was a good man. He could still remember his first meeting with the Vorn in Wynn’s underground dwelling and almost taking his head off, supposing him to be an enemy.
That day had been a wake up call for Tiet, learning how the Vorn were a friendly people enslaved by their own military. He had hated them for so long, blaming them for the murder of his family and his people, while not realizing things are rarely as straightforward as they seem.
Tiet approached the podium in the middle of the chamber and waited. A glass of water was sitting on the side, and he wondered if it would be inappropriate to take a big drink of it right now. His throat was getting dryer by the moment.
Everyone became quiet as the delegate from Baeth Periege stood to address the gathering. He was an elder Vorn man named Licoure. His translator pin activated as he spoke in his native Vorn language.
“Master Soone, we are honored by your presence at this gathering and are happy you have accepted our invitation. I realize you have been approached numerous times with our offer to support your ascension to the throne. Will you to hear us out collectively on the matter, with patience?”
“I am honored by the support of the delegates assembled here,” Tiet said. “But I fear you have placed your confidence in the wrong man to lead. I do not feel I am experienced enough in necessary matters to be worthy of such a calling.”
“Then I hope we may further persuade you,” said Licoure.
Another Vorn elder stood as Licoure seated himself again. Tiet recognized him as Ush, the delegate from the city of Thalidi. He appeared to be very old, but the wrinkles on his face spoke of wisdom and vast experience rather than senility.
“Master Soone, I was in the Vorn military when the war between our peoples first began more than four generations ago. It had been a peaceful relationship during the times before. Our peoples were like brothers. The Barudii king of that time was Isic. He was a very wise man and was instrumental in the exchange of information and technologies between our peoples.
“He and our leader were the best of friends and there was open trade and society between our planets and peoples. Many Vorn lived in the cities of this Castai and many Castillians lived in our cities on our home planet of Demigoth.
“Trade negotiations had only recently begun with the Baruk when a tragedy occurred. Our leader, who was greatly beloved by our people, was assassinated. When an extensive investigation was conducted, the evidence all seemed to point to a plot among the Barudii to gain trade agreements with the Baruk and push us out. The Baruk had come forth with the information and, though King Isic denied it vehemently, our people felt genuinely betrayed.
“Not long after, a group of Castillians living on Demigoth was massacred by vigilantes seeking revenge for our fallen leader. King Isic himself journeyed to Demigoth in an attem
pt to quell the misunderstanding and persuade the new military leadership to reenter the relationship of peace which had so long been enjoyed between our peoples. The Vorn military leadership seized Isic and his entourage and put them to death for crimes against our people.
“This was an outrage to the Castillians and war was declared. The Baruk pretended to be neutral to the conflict and made their technologies and information available to both sides. It would not be understood until much later what role the Baruk had played in instigating the war.
“The struggle lasted nearly a decade with the Vorn appearing to be the victor. We had decimated nearly all of the major cities of the Castillians on this planet before a new weapon was revealed. We would learn much later that the Baruk had provided technology to the Barudii, who created the giant Sphere weapon. By the time it was launched against us, the Castillians were all but wiped out. It would be their last attempt against us before they were extinguished as a people on this planet. The weapon’s mission was to hunt down and destroy all Vorn targets. We lost millions of people to it. It was at this time that the Vorn military turned to the scientific community in a desperate attempt to rebuild our dwindling forces. They created the Horva clones.
“The first generation clones were enhanced in strength, agility and intellect. They were superior warriors. However, it soon became apparent that the Horva were becoming too powerful and might well get beyond our ability to control them. The first generation Horva, including Grod, were replaced with a brutish new type of clone that could be easily controlled by our leaders.”
“Do you mean, Ambassador Ush, that the Horva were created as slaves for the Vorn?” Tiet asked.
“Yes, exactly” replied Ush. “The Horva under Grod would, as you have seen, eventually rebel against the military. However, the new Horva were very useful to the military regime in keeping the civilian population under control.
“At a later time, when the role of the Baruk in the war became apparent to our people, there arose and outcry to break ties with them. However, the military had treaties with the Baruk and they were determined to maintain their own power. Our people rebelled and called for new leadership, but the rebellion was quickly crushed with help from the Baruk.
“It has been their plan to gain control of this system all along. They have played our people against one another in the hopes of destroying both. They’ve managed to nearly obliterate the Castillians except for those escaping across the rift to the twin planet. And they have so severely crippled the Vorn that we have gone under their dominion almost completely. The Baruk were just waiting for the Sphere weapon, which continued its attacks, to wipe out the Vorn completely before moving in for the takeover.
“The Vorn military’s strength diminished as the Sphere attacks continued and the Horva under Grod mounted campaign after campaign of deadly attacks upon our cities established here on Castai. The military attempted to push through the transdimensional rift to other worlds when scouts came back with data to support the proposal.
“After conquering the twin Castai on the other side, it was hoped that the remainder of our people might escape the Sphere by migrating through and somehow collapsing the rift permanently. During that conflict with your people, Wynn was displaced here. He has worked with our resistance leaders in hopes of finding some way to overthrow the military’s control over the remaining population. Even so, Grod’s forces have gained more and more territory and threatened our lives.
“Now that you are here, Master Soone, we have seen some of your ability. Both Wynn and Daooth Pasad have put overwhelming confidence in you. Not only do we trust their judgment, but we have also considered the opportunity presented to us by returning an heir to the Barudii throne. Our people once revered your leader as much as our own, and we feel compelled to ask you to ascend to your rightful place as king to lead both of our peaceful peoples against the threat we are faced with from the Baruk and Grod.”
Tiet was stunned by the whole account of Castillian and Vorn history. It was much more than he had expected. The pieces to a vast puzzle seemed to fall into place now. The Baruk had begun it all and had very nearly destroyed all the clans in their greed for conquest.
Tiet now began to understand the importance that was being placed on the Barudii throne. Perhaps it was a matter of redemption for the Vorn after falsely accusing and executing their ally of long ago, or more importantly, maybe they genuinely believed that the Barudii king was so great an icon to rally around that the peace might even last and these two races could engage the threat wholeheartedly, maybe even victoriously.
Orin had taught him years ago that the confidence you take into a battle may well determine the outcome. Tiet still did not feel confident in himself, but he did have confidence in this great people. If he was what was needed to unite them and hold them together in the face of the coming conflict then perhaps he should reconsider.
Just then, Ranul and Estall appeared in the council chamber.
“Forgive our interruption, Ambassadors,” Estall said.
“We have new information from one of our long range probes near the star Cassis.”
“Tell us,” said Licoure.
“The Baruk appear to have amassed a battle fleet of some fifty large vessels and many smaller ones. They’re on their way,” Ranul said.
“When, Ranul?”
“Maybe two days, if we’re lucky.”
A wave of murmuring enveloped the chamber of delegates and guests as the realization of the coming storm hit them. Tiet thought further on the situation as the focus of the meeting left off of him. The delegates began talking amongst themselves, and the whole assembly generally became disorganized.
Little was known about the Baruk’s true capabilities-only that they were very fierce in combat employing various kinds of technologies and bio-weaponry. It would be very difficult to fight a war on two fronts, even though Grod and his forces were weaker than before. If Grod seized the opportunity to attack again with the coalition simultaneously fighting the Baruk, it could quickly turn out for the worse.
Then Tiet was struck with a new thought. The threat to this planet was also a threat to the Horva. They had no allegiance to the Baruk and had helped drive off the Vorn military presence which held treaty with the Baruk. This fight was Grod’s fight, whether the general realized it or not.
Tiet needed the assembly’s attention and he needed it now. He kicked the podium off of the dais. It crashed down the steps loudly onto the stone floor. All eyes were suddenly drawn to him.
“Forgive me for the interruption, Ambassadors,” he said, “but I have reconsidered and have decided to accept your endorsement.”
Shouts began to erupt from the audience. He interrupted them again.
“Please…my acceptance is conditional!” he said over the crowd. Everyone became quite again. Tiet saw Wynn considering him.
“I will accept-on the condition that the Council endorses my going to General Grod in an attempt to broker a peace agreement and convince him to fight with us against the Baruk.”
He waited after that statement, expecting a reaction. The ambassadors were all looking at one another to confer. The room was now awash in low murmurs concerning Tiet’s dangerous request. Tiet stood fast, waiting. After a few moments Ambassador Licoure turned back to address him.
“Master Soone, your request is troubling to say the least, but I am curious why you would think the Horva would join us?”
“I believe the main thrust of Grod’s campaign and the Horva’s desires all center around wanting their freedom and fighting to attain it. I think Grod might be willing to listen to what I have to say. He wants what we want. I just have to make him see it.”
“With all due respect, we have never known the Horva, especially Grod, to be open to negotiations,” said Licoure.
“I only ask for your endorsement and the willingness to work with the Horva peacefully if I am successful, nothing more. If you agree, I will accept your motion to ascend
to the throne of my father.”
Licoure looked back at the other delegates in the Council and at Wynn who was still fixed on Tiet. The other ambassadors gestured with approving nods to Licoure.
“Master Soone, we will agree against my better judgment.”
“I appreciate this, Ambassadors.” Tiet turned to leave the assembly.
Wynn made his way quickly to catch up to Tiet as he walked back down the great hall.
“Wait, Tiet!”
Tiet slowed, but did not stop.
“Tiet, what are you up to? Grod won’t negotiate with you. He’s a monster who only loves conquest.”
Tiet stopped then, surprised by the statement.
“Wynn, you told me things aren’t always what they appear to be. I hated the Vorn who were actually peaceful-”
“Yes, but that’s not Grod at all, he-”
“He and the Horva were slaves wanting their freedom. And as for being a monster…well, he managed to destroy the Sphere weapon no one else had been able to defeat, so he must be pretty smart and he must be a great leader to have generated the successful uprising against the Vorn military.”
Wynn stood silent, surprised at the wisdom pouring out of his apprentice.
“Besides, we cannot afford to fight a war on two fronts. I think we’ll lose.”
Wynn had considered that prospect also. He remained silent as Tiet turned to continue out. “I’ve got to get going on this while we still have time,” said Tiet as he punched the button to open the lift door.
“Do you really think Grod will listen-will he even answer your transmission?”
“I have no intention of transmitting anything. I’m going to Nagon-Toth personally.”
“Do you really think he will let you just walk in?” Wynn asked sarcastically.
“We’ll see.”
“You do realize, if you go and confront him, he might just decide he should join the Baruk against us. Did you consider that?”
“I’m not giving him the opportunity,” Tiet said matter-of-factly. “If he doesn’t join us then I’m going to kill him.”
