The Return: The Conglomerate Trilogy (Volume 1)

by William S Frisbee Jr

  “Thanks,” Luke replied and then out loud to Suresh.

  “How is it you knew the crew of the Shrike would be there a MONTH ago?” Luke said.

  “That is a difficult question,” Suresh nodded and glanced around. “Unfortunately, in this case I must refrain from answering it.”

  “What?” Luke said, surprised. He couldn’t remember ever getting such a response to a question.

  “I’m sorry my friend,” Suresh said sadly. “But I cannot tell you and I cannot lie. Please understand it will remain a mystery. It was important however that you find your Soma for many reasons. One reason is that I care about you and the people of New Alamo. You have helped the Conglomerate more than you might know with your actions and ability to make war.”

  Suresh looked at Felix again.

  “Do you know what that is?” Luke asked.

  “Yes,” the Topa said.

  “And?” Luke asked.

  “That is very interesting. This is an unexpected twist,” the Topa said continuing to look at Felix. “I did not see this in the tapestry.”

  “That’s not helping,” Luke said. “What is it?”

  Felix looked up at Luke and Leonessa.

  “It is very interesting,” Suresh said oblivious to Luke’s frustration.

  Luke wanted to wring Suresh’s neck.

  “The Conglomerate is large with many races. There are many dangers and factors. You understand how small ripples can create massive waves and so it is among the Conglomerate races,” Suresh said.

  “If you can’t tell me how you knew the crew of the Shrike would be here, then why are you here now?” Luke asked.

  “I wanted to check on you,” Suresh said. “I wanted to see for myself, to feel the energy, to see if it was true.”

  Suresh turned to Leonessa, “It is a pleasure to meet you,” Suresh said.

  Leonessa nodded, unsure. “Thank you, sir,” she said and looked to Luke for guidance.

  “Now I’m sure you have unfinished business,” Suresh said. “I must warn you, when the time comes the Topa will not interfere. Some things are human affairs and the Topa must allow you to make your own decisions and your own mistakes.”

  “Cryptic as ever,” Luke said looking up at Suresh.

  Suresh nodded. “We must be. We cannot give you clear directions or you will become our slaves and expect us to answer all your questions. We can only guide and we must allow you to stumble and fall or you will not learn to walk. Sadly, this has meant the extinction of races in the past. I would miss humans.”

  “No other bits of advice?” Luke asked. “No clues about Felix here?”

  Suresh smiled and cocked its head to stare at Felix.

  “In time my friend,” Suresh said. “Will you please introduce us?”

  Everyone looked at Suresh in surprise.

  “Aren’t the Topa all knowing?” Luke asked, assuming Suresh had known.

  “Of course not,” Suresh said. “There would be fewer mistakes if we were.”

  Luke motioned toward Leonessa, “This is Lieutenant Leonessa Ferraro, former Captain of the Shrike.”

  Suresh bowed his head and Leonessa bowed lower.

  “It is an honor to meet you,” Leonessa said. “Please forgive me as I am unfamiliar with the protocol when dealing with a Topa.”

  “Learn from Friend Luke,” Suresh said. “He will guide you. Usually we do not like to dwell on protocol, it can be cumbersome and complex, delaying understanding and accomplishments. I expect to see you again, the honor is mine.”

  Luke scowled at Suresh and introduced Brita, Amanda, Jeremy, Burke and the rest of the crew. He was surprised he had remembered them all, but prompts from his InnerBuddy helped.

  “It is good to see you again Nelson,” Suresh said.

  “Same here Topa Suresh,” Nelsons said.

  “Musashi,” Suresh said. “How is the training going?”

  “Commander Kishi remains a stubborn student, but he is an excellent one. I have only begun on the others Topa Suresh.”

  Suresh nodded. “Thank you.”

  “Gray is gone?” the Topa asked.

  “He is planet side,” Luke said.

  “Would you be able to help us find the missing crewmen?” Luke asked. Luke wanted answers and Suresh would try to escape soon.

  Suresh looked sadly at Luke and Leonessa.

  “I’m sorry but I cannot interfere in that,” Suresh said. “I wish I could help, but the ripples could be problematic and it is not a Topa affair.”

  “So, you are pretty much useless and just here to sight see?”

  Suresh smiled brightly. “Yes.”

  “Are you ever going to tell me what a Soma is?” Luke asked.

  Suresh looked surprised and glanced at Luke and Leonessa before shrugging his narrow shoulders.

  “In time,” Suresh said. “You have found her, which is the important thing for now. She will provide you with additional mission parameters.”

  “I will?” Leonessa said and glanced at Luke, confused. “I’m not sure I understand.”

  Nodding Suresh looked at her. “Understanding is not always required. You have two problems to be addressed. The Topa will extend you assistance by paying friend Luke to assist you. Please keep in mind our assistance in this matter is not to be discussed outside the human race and we would much prefer maximum discretion in this matter, even among fellow humans.”

  “In exchange for what?” Leonessa said looking at Suresh.

  Suresh sighed. “We will not ask for repayment. We do not intend to gain power, wealth, or favors. Our goals are simpler, and so frequently overlooked.”

  “What are your goals Topa Suresh?” Leonessa asked. Luke wanted to applaud her for not bowing and scraping before the Topa like so many others.

  “We wish to minimize the violence,” the Topa said. “And we wish to uplift.”

  “Uplift?” Luke asked. This was new.

  “Some races evolve and some devolve,” Suresh said. “We seek to help races evolve.”

  “Topa Suresh, why,” Brita asked. “Won’t that increase competition for you?”

  Suresh smiled at Brita. “You assume there must be competition. You assume resources and space is finite.”

  Everyone remained silent.

  “Thank you,” Luke said sarcastically. “Any useful advice?”

  Suresh laughed. “That is all I can give at the moment. I will go now. Good luck with your missions.”

  Suresh nodded and stepped back into a shimmering blue curtain that appeared. The curtain of light disappeared once he was through.

  “Nelson?” Luke asked.

  “No dice,” Nelson said. “He purged the sensor readings.”

  “Even the backups?” Luke asked.

  “Yes,” Nelson replied.

  “How did he purge the sensor readings? Can we block or prevent it next time?”

  “I don’t know Commander, we will have to review the data,” Nelson said.

  “What are you talking about?” Brita asked nervously.

  Luke turned and smiled. “Trying to figure out the Topa’s transporter mechanism. Imagine the military application. He can use that blue portal to travel several AU in the blink of an eye.”

  Brita looked shocked. “You are trying to spy on the Topa and discover their secrets?!” Brita said.

  Luke chuckled, “For about the last twenty years.”

  “And you don’t think they might get pissed about that; maybe destroy you, the New Alamo and the human race?” Brita said. “You really DO have a suicide wish, don’t you? They haven’t licensed that technology to us!”

  Shrugging Luke turned to the others standing around watching. “Suresh hasn’t freaked out yet or told me to stop. You think he wiped my sensors by accident?”

  Looking around him, Luke could see the people who understood were horrified, and those who didn’t were confused.

  “I’m getting hungry,” Luke said and looked for Jeeves.

  “D
inner is served!” Jeeves announced loudly and with a smile. Everyone took his or her seats. Felix sat down on the floor between Luke and Leonessa. Luke stared at it for a few minutes. It glanced up at him and then lay its head back down. It seemed content, and it was easy to forget about.

  “Do you understand me?” Luke asked. Felix looked up at him and then continued to look around. The creature’s head just clearing the table where it could see the others.

  Leonessa sat at Luke’s right-hand side and Nelson on his left. Luke could see all the droids had seats and were interspersed among the guests. It weird Luke thought and he wasn’t sure how this would work out since the droids didn’t eat. Theoretically, they could live forever without needing anything, except perhaps company.

  Even Brita’s higher-level droid, Kay was here and was talking with Burke’s assistant engineer Mokrane. The only droid not sitting at the table was Jeeves who was moving around supervising and directing the serving bots, and Musashi who stood behind and to Luke’s side, like a bodyguard.

  Originally, the droids had just been equipment, programmed, and given direction. When they had developed personalities, it didn’t occur to Luke this was unusual. When he purchased them, he had given them a focus, like Nelson’s focus was on fleet operations, Gray’s focus was on battalion and regimental operations, and several of the other sentient droids had been focused on company or platoon tactics. For perhaps the first time Luke looked around him and saw his droids as actual people.

  Musashi transmitted to Luke, “If you don’t socialize I will hit you upside the head. I’m not here as your body guard, I’m here to make sure you don’t act like an ass.”

  “I thought I was in command,” Luke sent, cutting into whatever Jeeves had put before him.

  “You appointed me to be your instructor, and it is my job to make you a better warrior and a better person and you gave me a lot of leeway to do my job,” Musashi said.

  “A better warrior, I said nothing about person,” Luke transmitted.

  “Warriors are people too,” Musashi replied. “Now socialize or I will show you the errors of your ways in a very brutal manner.”

  Luke turned to look at Musashi who stood there and glared at him. Musashi leaned forward imperceptibly and looked back. It was a threat Luke.

  “Prick,” Luke sent back. “What should I talk about?"

  Musashi was silent for a few seconds and then transmitted to Luke. “How would I know? Ask about her ship meat sack.”

  Then Musashi transmitted to Nelson, “Thanks.”

  “So what kind of vessel was the Shrike Lieutenant?” Luke asked during a lull in her conversation with Brita about the size of the Conglomerate.

  A shadow came over her attitude. “She was a good ship,” Leonessa said. “One of our best and crewed by the best.”

  “Bad move metal head,” Luke transmitted to Musashi noticing the negative impact on her mood. “I’m thinking there are bad memories associated with it.”

  “You are the human with more experience in these matters,” Musashi transmitted. “You have forgotten but I think you will pick it back up. Failed with that approach, try another one.”

  “Thanks metal head,” Musashi transmitted to Nelson.

  “How was I to know?” Nelson transmitted back. “I like talking about ships.”

  “You did a remarkable job from the sounds of it,” Luke said. “I know how hard it is to lose people but look at what you have accomplished. You made contact with aliens, you found people from the New Alamo, and you will not die a slow horrible death on an alien world.”

  “I’m not even the real Captain,” Leonessa said staring at her plate. “When our voyage started I was only third officer. We had a crew of eighty. Now we are down to so few.”

  Leonessa looked around her at the remaining crew, and Luke felt her pain.

  “This is a battle cruiser,” Luke said. “It is full of alien technology with some of the most advanced and lethal weapons found in the Conglomerate. After we find your crew, we will go hunting the Caliphate. I have a score to settle, and until now, I haven’t had a chance.”

  “As for your crew,” Luke said. “I will rip apart this system if we have to.”

  “Do you have any leads?” Leonessa asked.

  “I have leads. Nothing solid. How are your upgrades going?”

  “Okay,” she said and Luke nodded. Jeeves sent him an update on the upgrades and it looked good. It took time for the nanites to reform and integrate. It would be painless and would cause vertigo occasionally but that would be all. As long as she was on this ship the nanites would receive their programming.

  “Tomorrow we will go down to the surface and visit some slavers,” Luke said. Leonessa tensed. “I think we will find answers.”

  “I would also like to send two frigates to recover your ship,” Luke continued. “There are humans who need to be returned to their home and families.”

  “Thank you,” Leonessa said. “I should have thought of that. I’m not cut out to be a Captain.”

  Luke raised an eyebrow.

  “I think you have done an outstanding job,” Luke said. “Right now, your concern is your missing crew, where it should be. You can’t be all knowing like the stinking Topa.”

  Leonessa smiled, but Luke saw the sadness there.

  “May I go sir?” Burke asked. “If it is okay with Lieutenant Ferraro?”

  Leonessa nodded.

  “That would be good,” Luke said. “Jeremy, would you take charge of the expedition? Take the Kukri and the Gladius. If you find any Caliphate lurkers let me know how many pieces are left afterwards.”

  “Aye, aye Commander,” Jeremy said.

  “Happy?” Luke transmitted to Musashi.

  “You need improvement meat sack,” Musashi replied. “But you are improving slowly.”

  “Thanks metal head,” Luke said.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  Shuttle to Bizzen

  The shuttle felt crowded with people on it, Luke thought, just one other person would have made it feel crowded before, but now there was Brita and Leonessa. He thought about the wisdom of bringing Leonessa but couldn’t think of a good reason to leave her behind. She had completed the upgrades and it would be a good learning experience for her. Hopefully it would be safe enough. Just a face to face with an alien slaver. What could go wrong?

  Luke used his InnerBuddy to open a screen of Leonessa so he could study her without staring at her. Topa Suresh had said he was to train her, but nobody had asked her and he wondered if he should share that information with her. He dismissed the idea though, the choice would be hers and he didn’t want Suresh’s words to influence her. All he could do was to give her opportunities to learn.

  He wondered how soft and luxurious her hair would be if she let it grow out. She had strong Italian features and large expressive eyes. He watched her hands twitch and her eyes move around, unfocused, as she got used to using her new InnerBuddy. There was a ghost of a smile on her lips and at the moment she seemed to enjoy herself, her problems forgotten as she learned a new technology and gained proficiency with it.

  According to Nelson she had taken all the upgrades available. She could now survive, like Luke, on nearly any Conglomerate world without protective gear and she had even offered to be identified as an individual by the Conglomerate.

  Luke had arranged a meeting with a Mashgol trader. Nobody knew what planet or sector the Mashgol originated in. They were some of the most diverse and ideologically different races in the Conglomerate. Some could be trusted with your life, some could not be trusted with your name, and they were everywhere.

  The Mashgol trader Luke planned on meeting was an unknown and Luke could not find out much about it besides it was a slaver. Mashgol like many of the Conglomerate races, could be immortal, and frequently were. The ones with strong ideological views on the subject died off. From a racial perspective, the Mashgol were loners. You would never see two Mashgol in the same room or in the s
ame building.

  “So why are we meeting this Mashgol?” Leonessa asked as they rode the shuttle down.

  “Because he has his fingers deep in the slave trade and he answered a query about unusual and exotic alien sentient slaves,” Luke said grimly.

  “Slaver?!” Leonessa said looking at Luke. “I thought this was a civilized world?”

  “You would be surprised,” Luke said. “Slavery is very much in style in some cultures. More often than not, it is about social status. The more varied and exotic your slaves are, the more prestige you get.”

  “That’s not good,” Leonessa said. “Why weren’t we enslaved instead of abandoned by the patrol?”

  “Not all species practice it,” Luke said. “It is complicated and problematic in some areas.”

  “Why don’t the Topa stop it?” Leonessa asked.

  “I think they would like to, but they make it a habit of not interfering in the affairs of others,” Luke said throwing her a glance. “They prefer others work out their problems and do what they can to keep those problems from leading to genocide or mass murder.”

  “Sounds bizarre,” Leonessa said.

  “With so many different aliens, ideologies, concepts, biological makeups, evolutionary traits and ideas it is near impossible and it would be wrong to dictate how others live. They can’t stop every injustice, nor do they bother trying. It gets complicated fast, especially when you throw in perceptions and ideology. There are so many versions of the truth out there. I think the Topa do what they can to let everyone find their own truth as long as people do not force their perceived truth on others.”

  “That’s deep thinking,” Leonessa said, her eyes unfocused.

  “It can lead to a very violent world,” Luke said. “And lots of people that need help. Don’t drop your guard. Some aliens are good, some are not. Always remember they all think differently, they have different views, different outlooks, and different goals. Never drop your guard.”

  “Ever,” Musashi added. “And if fighting starts, get down.”

  Leonessa looked between Luke and Musashi. The assault shuttles had multiple configurations; this configuration was called ‘executive’ and it was more comfortable with large, soft chairs, tables, and view screens. The back was still stacked with a platoon of warbots though.