by Seth Libby
“So we thought, but it seems the scientists were incorrect. Needless to say Evan doesn’t want Crystal going. Of course I would love to be a fly on the wall when he tells her that,” Liam said as he looked over his shoulder at Evan.
Evan frowned slightly before he spoke.
“Oh, I think she will understand.”
“Did you marry another Crystal recently? Because, if not, I think we might need to check you out.”
“Check me out? Why?”
“Because you must have gone and suffered some sort of head injury if you think Crystal is simply going to let you go fight against the Shenkar without her.
Evan snorted indignantly as he folded his arms across his chest.
“I am fully capable of convincing her to see reason in this.”
“Uh-huh,” Liam said as he turned back to the admiral.
Admiral Kelvin only smiled slightly, not wanting to get involved in the debate. Evan didn’t say anything more except to make an annoyed sound in his throat. Ignoring Evan, Liam spoke to the admiral.
“So we will be going as air support for the ground incursions?”
“Yes and no, all of the Paladins will be of course but I would prefer to use the Templars in another capacity. We will supplement some of our normal pilots to fill the pilot ranks alongside the Paladins. With their advanced military training in combat and tactics we would like to integrate the Templars with the Praetorian Guard to serve as officers. Personally I would feel a lot safer with several of your kind along to protect me.”
Liam nodded his understanding of the admiral’s explanation although he hid his annoyance at the reference of “your kind”. He knew the admiral meant no offense but it still reminded Liam that he would never be viewed as “normal” ever again among the human race.
“So who will be in overall command of the Praetorian Guard?”
“General Maks Leonid, formally of the Russian Federation, now commander of the newly formed Praetorian Guard. I don’t know much of the man, other than he is rather loud, boisterous and has a great love for vodka.”
“That should be interesting,” Evan mused.
“You will need to recruit a few men to lead the guard. Mostly Sergeants, as they were the largest number of men and woman that were killed when the Phoenix was hit. Terrible thing to happen to all of those men and woman when the section of the ship they were in was hit by an enemy torpedo. Blew out the entire section, vented them all out into space,” the admiral explained.
Liam nodded but otherwise said nothing.
“If you need anything else feel free to let me know.”
Liam thought this over, not thinking of anything he turned to ask Evan if he could think of anything they might need. But Evan seemed not to be paying attention as he looked past Liam. Following Evans, gaze he found that he appeared to be looking at the Shenkar warrior that was being interviewed. But no one was speaking at the moment as the Shenkar warrior stared directly at Liam. Both, President Sheehan and Prime Minister Denshire, stood and moved back away from the door. Clearly both politicians had moved back to allow Liam to move forward. Taking his cue, Liam stepped forward to stand directly in the doorway to the cell. Studying the Shenkar Liam swore he could see fear in the Shenkars eyes. Both human and Shenkar stared at each other for several minutes, neither speaking. Liam was considering returning to the admiral to ask more questions about the upcoming mission when the Shenkar spoke. At first Liam had thought he had imagined it as it had been barely louder than a whisper.
“Excuse me? Did you say something?” Liam asked.
“Dala Dvierik.”
Liam thought he had misunderstood as he didn’t understand what the Shenkar warrior had said. This shouldn’t be the case as the nanites throughout Liam should automatically translate the Shenkar language. Brow furrowed, Liam turned his head and looked over his shoulder to the four men behind him. Just looking at all of their faces Liam already knew the answer to his question before he asked it, but he asked it anyways.
“Did anyone understand him?”
As Liam expected no one understood what the Shenkar had said.
“You do not understand because the words do not exactly translate into anything specific in your language,” said a mechanical voice.
All five men turned to see the Meshtrell known as Jaera walking down the passageway towards them.
` “Excuse me?” asked President Sheehan.
“There is nothing wrong with your translators. There are rare occasions when a language will have a word or phrase that will not translate exactly or rather it could have multiple meanings. In this case the translators will not automatically translate it and you will hear the un-translated word or phrase.”
“Oh…like the word Shelecore? I always wondered why that word never translated. It means emperor doesn’t it?” Evan asked.
“Close but not exactly…it is closer to supreme leader or emperor so you just interpret it that way. Another word you have found that doesn’t translate is Sheeata which best translates into honor challenge,” explained Jaera.
“Okay so what does Dala Dvierik mean?” Evan asked.
“Well as I explained the words don’t translate exactly….” Jaera began.
“Just give us the best translation already,” Evan replied testily.
Jaera looked at Evan for a long moment before turning back to the rest of the group.
“The best translation would best be interpreted into the words death storm or storm of death.”
Liam turned back to look at the Shenkar within the cell. The fear was still there but there was also a hint of curiosity.
“So which is it? Death storm or storm of death?” Liam asked.
The Shenkar’s eyes narrowed slightly, cocking his head to the side, as he thought this over. As if suddenly making up his mind, he stood up. Tentatively he took a step forward, first testing his weight on his wounded leg. Satisfied his leg would hold up he then walked forward to stand before Liam, the clear cell door the only barrier that separated them. From the looks of it, Liam would guess that Shizta was fighting an incredible internal battle from backing away. They examined each other quietly for several minutes before Shizta spoke again.
“You are the storm, you bring death, you are Ghost.”
Liam heard the sharp intake of breath from some of the people behind him. Judging from the proximity of where the sounds came from, Liam would guess it was Evan and Admiral Kelvin that had understood the statement.
The reference to “the storm” came from the first time Liam had openly communicated with the Shenkar. His squadron had been on patrol in system 238 when they came upon a patrol of thirty Shenkar fighters. In a moment of insanity, as Liam puts it, he opened communication and addressed the Shenkar.
“To the Shenkar Federation inbound fighters, we are Necro Squadron, we are from the race of humans. You do not know us, but you will soon learn what we are made of and what we stand for. We, however, know what you are made of, and what you stand for. We know of your races destruction and subjugation of other sentient races. It all ends now for we will stop you. You have known the calm, now witness the storm, for we are the storm, and we bring death!”
The surprising thing was that this Shizta knew him. Apparently there had been at least one survivor that had returned to the Shenkar Federation. What made Liam think was how did Shizta know him by sight? Liam now went by the call sign Arch-Angel and there had been no survivors aboard the Tryliene so how did Shizta know him by sight?
“You know me? How do you know me on sight?” Liam finally asked.
Shizta seemed to consider this question for a few short moments,
weighing whether it would divulge anything important. Finally deciding there was no harm in telling Liam he then spoke.
“I was aboard the Tryliene.”
Liam was surprised to hear this as he had been positive there had been no survivors. Granted he hadn’t had a stable mind set at the time but he still had been sure h
e had killed all of the Tryliene crew.
“How did you survive? If you were truly aboard the Tryliene then you know I wasn’t exactly in a right state of mind. I butchered the entire crew and committed some gruesome acts. I understand the ship was large but I was very thorough in searching everyone out. I also find it hard to believe you hid, if that is the case, as Shenkar don’t hide from personal combat.”
Shizta smiled at hearing Liam’s thoughts on Shenkar ideology. Some of the fear that had been present within those Shenkar eyes receded and Shizta seemed to relax somewhat. Plainly he had expected Liam to do to him what he had done to the crew of the Tryliene.
“I came aboard later after you had left the Tryliene. I was able to retrieve the security footage of your travels through the ship from the onboard surveillance system. As it was we narrowly escaped before you and your fellow humans located the dead Tryliene and boarded her. My Shelecore and I have watched that footage on several occasions. I for one found it very disturbing every time I watched it.”
“And your Shelecore? What did he think of it?” Liam asked.
Shizta’s face grew grim as he thought over what Liam had just asked him. There had also been something else there, a small flash of anger within his eyes. The flash had been quick, before he was able to pull it under control, but it had been there.
“His views are slightly different from my own but he is our supreme leader and therefore his word shall be followed unquestioningly.”
Liam wasn’t surprised to hear this yet it still irritated him nonetheless.
“Do you honestly believe that? Do you truly believe in following one who believes in subjugating every sentient race for fear they might think for themselves? Every sentient being deserves to grow even if it means they stumble in the process. Stumbling teaches one their mistakes, mistakes they can learn and grow from.”
“And what if they do not learn from their mistakes?”
“Some undoubtedly will not learn from their mistakes and that will be the sad truth. Depending on what the situation is they will also suffer the consequences of such an act. But at least they were given that choice as opposed to being ruled by another and having another’s tyrannical views instilled upon them.
Let me ask you something, how is what you are doing any different from what you history teaches the Meshtrell did to you?”
Shizta faltered at this point, seemingly not knowing what to say to Liam’s question. A battle seemed to be raging within Shizta as he continued to think over Liam’s words, looking everywhere but at Liam. After what seemed a very longtime Shizta finally looked at Liam and spoke.
“You do not know what you are talking about, you were never there. You humans are ignorant puny pawns to the Meshtrell and you will all pay the price. Do you really think you beat us today? We have many warriors and many warships. What you have faced so far is nothing in comparison to what we can bring to bear. The only reason we do not bring everything we have is because to do so would release a darkness upon the universe in the form of the Brood.”
Liam heard Jaera whisper the name Brood to himself from behind him. Liam made a note to himself to ask Jaera about that later. He didn’t like the sound of recognition Jaera had when he whispered the name Brood. But that wasn’t the only reason, along with recognition; Liam would also swear he heard fear within the Meshtrell. He opened his mouth to speak again but Shizta cut him off, angrily.
“I am done speaking with you.”
Finished with what he had to say, Shizta turned away, limping as he headed back to his bench. Liam continued to watch Shizta until he reached his bed and seated himself upon it. Never once did Shizta look over at the door where Liam still stood. In fact he seemed to be making great efforts to look everywhere but at Liam. He wondered if Shizta’s heart really believed what he had just said in his little tirade. Somehow, although he couldn’t say why, he didn’t think Shizta did. Liam was sure some of what he had said caused Shizta to pause and think it over. Until of course Shizta’s stubbornness took hold and closed off any further conversation. Sighing Liam turned away and looked over to the men behind him. Both the President and Prime Minister had already retreated back up the hallway with Admiral Kelvin. Evan leaned against the wall as he waited for Liam and Jaera was nowhere within sight.
“Where did Jaera go?” Liam asked.
Evan blinked, as surprised registered on his face, at the question he clearly hadn’t expected. Standing up straight he looked around then turned back to Liam.
“Don’t know, he was just here a minute ago, perhaps he is up the hall with the others. Why do you ask?”
“I wanted to ask him something. I think he knows something about part of that conversation and I want to know what. It might be nothing but I heard him repeat the name “Brood” and I didn’t like the way he said it.”
Liam turned and headed up the hall towards the security office, Evan falling in beside him.
“Think it is something to worry about?” Evan asked.
“Not sure, just bothered me, that’s all. The Meshtrell have a habit of not telling us a lot and I have found that if it is something that makes them think then maybe it is something we should look into.”
Upon reaching the security office Liam looked about for the little Meshtrell but didn’t see him. Admiral Kelvin stood off to the side with President Sheehan and Prime Minister Denshire talking in a hushed conversation. The only other person present was the lone ensign who seemed to be trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible whilst a high ranking admiral and two world leaders were present.
Not knowing if he should leave or stay, Liam leaned against the wall and waited for the admiral to finish his conversation.
“Typical little alien, mutter something cryptic and then duck out before we can ask him about it.” Evan commented.
“Yeah, irritating, isn’t it.”
December 26th, 2013 12:38pm
EDF Kraken, Terran system, high Earth orbit
Shizta sat heavily down upon his bed feeling mentally and physically drained. He hadn’t expected to encounter the harbinger of death his people had come to know as Dala Dvierik. Shizta had never experienced fear before in his life and, even now after Dala Dvierik had left, Shizta struggled to control himself from shaking all over. The man didn’t really seem to be the demon that he had envisioned yet there was still something in his eyes that made Shizta’s blood run cold. There was something akin to unbridled power held in check by a fine thread. Shizta imagined this human could unleash death on a level higher than anything anyone had witnessed as of yet and this scared Shizta to his very soul. How many of these humans were like this one? Was he the only one or could there be more? If there were more then what would happen if these humans were to reach Shryka, the Shenkar homeworld.
Shizta looked up and gazed out through the door to the cell beyond. The Shenkar warrior in that cell lay comatose upon his own bed, various medical tubes running to and from his body. From what Shizta had heard the Shenkar was in no immediate danger although he hadn’t yet woken from the coma he was in. But it wasn’t his current state that made Shizta look upon him but who he was….he was one of the “elites”. A class of Shenkar selected at birth and trained to become the elite warriors of the Shenkar Federation. Shizta had also been a part of that very same training program but through contacts in high places had managed to quickly rise to the rank of overlord. The elites were the best of the best, used in the most important of missions. Their numbers had diminished over the past few years…mostly due to the Shelecore and, what Shizta believed, his growing delusional belief that the elites were conspiring against him. Several elites had been supposedly “reassigned” from their traditional assignment of guarding the Shelecore.
Recently Shizta had discreetly investigated the whereabouts of the “reassigned” and on several occasions was unable to locate exactly where they currently were. Shizta firmly believe the elites were slowly being eliminated. As for the reason why? Shizta was unabl
e to prove anything. He had a theory though that the reason for the eliminations was due to the growing unrest with the populace. Over the past few years a common opinion had grown with the civilian population. Many Shenkar were beginning to question the way the Shelecore believed that all races needed to be subjugated. Many wanted to establish relations with new races through diplomatic terms, feeling this would accomplish more than enforcing one’s own opinions on others. At first Shizta believed them to be the ranting of the disillusioned, but as of late he too was beginning to see the sense in such actions.
The past year had truly been enlightening for Shizta, he wondered if he would be able to take anymore “eye opening” revelations. This brought Shizta’s thoughts again to the elite that lay upon the bed. If this one known as “Ghost” was able to slaughter the entire crew of a battlecruiser then he surely could kill an elite. The question was how many elites would it take to kill the human he had just spoken to? Another question is what if the rest of the humans fought just as ferociously as him? If this were the case then the Shenkar Federation could be facing annihilation. Shizta shivered at the thought as a sick knotted feeling grew within his stomach. In all of Shizta’s life he had never felt so helpless and alone as he did it this moment….a new feeling he did not like in the slightest.
December 26th, 2013 1:03pm
EDF Kraken, Terran system, high Earth orbit
Liam watched as the admiral spoke with President Sheehan and Prime Minister Denshire. He had a nagging suspicion that he was the subject of their conversation, or at least partly, as on several occasions one or more of the men would glance his way. Liam began to get an uneasy feeling that they were going to ask him to do something. So engrossed in his thoughts he didn’t notice that Evan was speaking to him until Evan gave him a light back handed cuff to his shoulder. Taking his eyes off the three men he then turned his attention to Evan.
“Yes?”
“I asked if you ever thought that little speech would ever come back to haunt you?”
