Martian Dragons

by Ian Woodhead

  “Contact with the Triumvate fleet is being blocked.”

  “You must be joking. Why would the Triumvate try to block us?”

  “It is not the Triumvate who is blocking the signal.” The computer's voice fell silent.

  Ryan looked up, sure that he had spotted movement in the corner of the room. Another security device coming online? He took a step back.

  “Attention. Eight thousand singularities have opened within this spacial region.”

  “What?” he cried. “Can you show me?”

  A security globe rushed into the room and stopped in front of Ryan's face. The globe flattened into a cuboid then expanded in both directions. A moment later the mirrored reflection vanished and Ryan watched as every usable marauder vessel fly through the singularities.

  “The Triumvirate commanders have already decided to fight despite being outnumbered two hundred to one. The Danu have calmly informed the commanders that their current stock drones will only last a couple of minutes. Even at optimum killrate, they will only take out a tenth of those ships.”

  He spun around. “Bernadette! I thought you were on the Danu vessel?”

  “The Triumvirate fleet is powering up their engines. The commanders are going to try and lure the enemy close to the planet's atmosphere. The Velicion scientists have devised a technique that will increase the yield of the nukes.”

  “And they'll use them to destroy the marauder ships?”

  She slowly shook her head. “No. The nukes are still heading for Mars. Ryan, they're going to blow up the planet, thinking the detonation will destroy the enemy fleet!” She held up her hand. Don't bother, Ryan. I can already see the question you're about to ask. Yes, it will most likely destroy the enemy as well as wiping out the entire Triumvirate ships but that's not the point.”

  He understood the implications alright. Ryan wasn't afraid to die. “Fine, then they blow up Mars. If it's the only option.”

  “Have you not learned anything since leaving the blueworld? If course there's another option, Ryan. You just need to open your eyes and start absorbing instead of looking for the path which doesn't look like it's going to kill you.”

  “What does that even mean?”

  She clicked her fingers and the remaining two globes rushed into the rooms. They stopped beside their altered companion. She clicked her fingers and the weapons shot out. Bernadette clicked her fingers again and the weapons retracted. “That's what I mean. The only reason they responded to my commands is because of you, Ryan. Your presence alone turned three of the most effective killing machines ever devised into playful puppies, and you didn't even know.” She sighed loudly. “That's what I mean.”

  Ryan blinked. He looked at Bernadette, then at the two inactive globes before turning his attention to the monitor. “Computer. Are the systems on this vessel compatible with the systems on the thousands of vessels now approaching Mars?”

  “Affirmative.”

  “What are you doing?”

  Ryan gave the woman a tight smile. “Computer. I want you to establish face to face screen communication with whoever is in direct control of that vast armada.”

  The Screen suddenly went black. Ryan heard a mass of alien voices. It sounded like hundreds of children screaming simultaneously. He clasped his hand against his ears then slowly pulled them away when the voices transformed into a single voice. He heard something barking out orders. The monitor now displayed the interior from another grey room. It could be showing the interior from any one of the areas from this ship with the exception that the room in the monitor contained another creature not too dissimilar to his Velicion friend. So this thing was the big boss? The creature in charge. A living specimen of the first terrestrial sentient race?

  “I am the one you seek. I am Ryan. I order you to stop the attack,” he said.

  The creature released a sound which reminded Ryan of somebody eating soup.

  “The marauder governor is laughing at you. Might I advise not to threaten a sentient carnivore? Their reaction will be impossible to predict.”

  “If you do not call off your attack, I shall destroy every ship in your fleet.”

  The creature made the same noise again. “You amuse me, and because of this, if you surrender immediately, my soldiers will only eat half of your crew.”

  “Computer. Cut transmission.” He waited for the Screen to go black again before continuing. “Computer . I want you to trigger the self-destruct sequence on all their ships. Set the detonation for one minute starting now.” He smiled at Bernadette. “Looks like you were wrong. I have learnt something.”

  Ryan heard a soft beep.

  “The Marshall Governor is demanding to speak with you.”

  “Oh? Let's make him wait a bit longer.”

  “There is another option.”

  He spun around and found himself facing yet another hologram. A female Danu. “Who are you?”

  “My race call me Lady Light. I have many other names but that is irrelevant.”

  “I think you had better get on with telling me all about this other option before I totally lose my mind.” He sneaked a glance at Bernadette. “Wait, do I really want to hear this?”

  The Danu entity walked up to him and took Ryan's hands. “They have no idea of their origins. Only the Empire's inner circle have a clue about their true origins and none of them know the location. Ryan.”

  “Right, so I can use this information as some kind of bargaining chip?”

  She shook her head. “No, I’m sorry but there’s no easy way to say this. You need to offer yourself to them.”

  “That's insane!” he burst out. “Those evil bastards would slice me up and serve my bits with wine. I wouldn't last a day.”

  The entity shook her head, still smiling. “It is the only way to start the difficult but vital process of unification. The Dionapters are fighting an unknown but powerful enemy yet despite their numbers and superior technology, they are still losing. The war is heading this way, Ryan. Only by working together, will the children of the Blueworld be strong enough to defeat them.”

  Bernadette moved closer until she was standing beside him. “You have to believe me, Ryan. He will not harm you. The governor is fully aware of your value and thanks to your little demonstration, now knows of your capabilities. The governor will try to use you to further his standing. While he is trying to manipulate you, Ryan, you have to do the same to him.”

  “Are you sure that this is the only way?”

  Both women nodded.

  “Fine. Let’s do this your way. Computer. Contact the Triumvate fleet and ask them to wait for further instruction then tell the enemy governor that I’m ready to listen to his surrender terms.”

  “It is time to prepare yourself, Ryan,” said Bernadette. “Your life is about to become very interesting.”

  Epilogue

  She was the first to arrive. This did not bother Lady Light, nor did it surprise her. She took her place inside the small golden chamber and watched as the warm rays from the morning sun caught the many Kablinak Gem clusters, embedded into the crafted stonetree blocks. It pleased her that the Era of Contact had occurred during her time of choosing. It made the potentially future uncomfortable talks with her fellow entities a little easier.

  This should be a time of rejoicing. It was probable that the fracture could soon be healed and yet, Lady Light could not shake the feeling that, despite all their preparations, their guidance and predictions, one or all of them had missed a puzzle piece.

  Lady Light hurriedly composed her face when the Velicion entity solidified. He gave the Danu a single respectful nod before taking his place directly opposite her. The Dionapter entity solidified, already seated in his chair and finally, the last of their kind, the Human entity appeared. She took her place in the last chair.

  A spheroid image appeared in the middle. It cleared to show several moons orbiting a ringed planet. Hundreds of city-sized Dionapter attack vessels passed one of the moons
when it separated into millions of smaller pieces. Each piece powered up and smashed into one of the huge spacecraft. Some of the attack vessels had time to retaliate but it was a futile gesture. Within the space of several seconds all that remain of the Dionapter vessels were a couple of burning hulks.

  “This ridiculous plan of yours better work, Danu,” snarled the Dionapter. “My people are dying in their millions.”

  “Have faith, my brother,”

  “If I did not have faith, your people as well as the filthy Danu would be attached to meat hooks, ready to be dropped into our repurpose vats.”

  The Danu leaned forward. “So typical of your species. You are just a base animal.”

  The Dionapter leered. “Your favourite kind.”

  “Enough bickering!” snapped the human. “We all agreed on this plan and we are all fully aware of the stakes involved.” Bernadette waved her hand. The image changed to showing the two Marauder ships moving closer. “It begins!”

  “May the spirit of Taylish protect you,” said Lady Light.

  The End