“They might if they know about it - and if they believed Belen’s story about the ancient civilization, which I doubt they would. I know and trust Belen, so I believe her word. But the story is a bit fanciful. I doubt the Critts would give it credence. We're the only people who know about it and we haven't been talking to any Critts lately. They are a long, long way away.”
“That’s true.” Devins said.
“Now I suppose there is a remote possibility that someone else besides Belen knows about the ancient civilization and wants those weapons. It’s a long shot, but I suppose it is conceivable. In the military you have to prepare for every option and consider every possibility. Perhaps some race knows about the very highly advanced weapons and wants to claim them. So obviously they don’t want us getting them. That assumes that some alien took a trip to Vega and somehow discovered the weapons. There are very high odds against that since Belen used any number of sophisticated probes to discover the weapons cache.”
I puffed again on my cigar. “But if we consider the impossible, or at least the highly improbable, what if this was not about the weapons? What if this is about the unfallen race of Aristolans? If our rescue mission is stopped, then they will be eliminated. Who wants them dead? Who would care if there is a Vega Adam and Eve still walking about after they were created? Who would want to kill them? Doesn’t that bring us more into your area than mine?” I asked.
The two born-again Christians and Fr. Diego looked at one another. Fr. Diego gave a wry smile.
“You are looking for the snake in this particular garden?”
“It crossed my mind, Father.”
“If there is an unfallen race then the adversary would be immensely concerned about keeping it away from the rest of civilization or destroying it entirely.” Norton said. “If true, an unfallen race would be a powerful weapon for the Kingdom of God. We do believe, and there is scriptural evidence for, that the enemy works through humans and, of course, other races. The Lord works through people, and so does the devil.”
I looked at Fr. Diego. “I assume the Catholic Church feels the same way.”
He nodded. “In my talks with officials in the church, this is one item that has been discussed. But we also recognize this could be spiritually a two-edged sword.”
“I’m not sure I see that, Father.” Devins said. “If this story is truth, it is proof of the Christian faith.”
Fr. Diego didn’t look elated. He sighed deeply. “It would be proof of the existence of God, and it might destroy the Body of Christ and the Body of Believers. We live by faith. Over the years, during our walk with the Lord we have learned to live by faith. Faith is a substance. We learn how to use that substance, how to bring it into existence. For example, if sickness attacks me, I immediately proclaim First Peter two-twenty four. I proclaim the healing scriptures in the Word.”
“So do we.” Devins said.
So they did. I had watched a wounded Devins heal remarkably quickly. Even with the medical nanos I was astonished at how fast the bloody flesh healed from a wound that should have been fatal.
“As a result of my faith, I haven’t had a headache, much less any serious medical problem in more than ten years. I’ve learned how to use my faith. Some people are very strong in faith in one area, and weak in others. You have to develop your faith in all areas. But we live by faith, not by sight. If we saw an unfallen race, proof of God’s existence, I wonder if most of the flock would want to live by sight, not by faith. That would destroy the church. That was not a problem before the age of interstellar flight, when it was impossible for one race to travel to the stars. Now… it is question I have discussed with church fathers.”
“And their conclusion was…” I said.
“That although there was a spiritual risk involved, we must pursue the possibility that there is an unfallen race out there in the galaxy. The possibility of discovering such a race outweighs the spiritual risks.”
“Wonder if satan feels the same way. He may think it’s too great a risk for him if the race is found.” Devins said.
Chapter 13
Starret hardly breathed as he watched the tape, although it wasn’t that dramatic. Just three aliens at a gray, stone table. The Xulon tapped the stone with his long, stick fingers. That could get to be annoying, Starret thought, but the other races didn’t seem to mind. He desperately wished he could hear what they were saying. Then again, he probably couldn’t understand the language. He didn’t speak Xulon. Few people in the galaxy did. Most people didn’t care about learning the Xulon language because they had no plans to travel to the planet. Even if they wanted to visit, the Xulon didn’t like strangers or other beings. They were also not known for polite conversation. He didn’t know the Crittenden language either. Only diplomats did. Although the last two diplomats who arrived on Crittenden were sent back to their home planet in pieces. Taking a wild guess, the two races that the Xulons and Critts were talking to couldn’t be all the virtuous.
“This is interesting but I’m not sure how many Federation governments will be all that enthused with watching a conference.” he said.
“Wait about one minute. The enthusiasm will come.” Uherlt said.
Starret jerked when the hologram popped up. Several planets and an orange sun appeared. The segment of space looked familiar. The Remadi System, right at the edge of the galaxy. Two habitable planets. Nice friendly people. Not highly advanced yet. But why would three buzzards care about the Remadi System?
Starret peered through the binoculars again and thought he saw the answer. Dozens of black ships appeared in the hologram and zoomed toward the two habitable planets. Huge, fiery explosions ripped the surface of the two worlds. The fires spread over the planets’ surface. Bright, orange-red flames moved rapidly over the continents leaving only black ashes in their wake.
The hologram changed. The Jaraold System appeared from thin air. Three thriving planets. One of the first systems to create interplanetary journeys. The first such journey was undertaken, if he remembered correctly, about 2050 on the time scale of Earth. All three worlds had something of a peaceful history. They had wars and conflicts on their planets but not to the degree that Earth and most other planets did.
Again the black ships swooped down on the planets and the fires erupted. Jets and ships from the defending wars appeared in the skies but the dog fights were over quickly. The black ships, small and large, looked invincible. They destroyed the defending ships and unleashed more bombs upon the defenseless planets.
“You have big plans.” Starret said.
For thirty minutes the black ships destroyed everything in the holographic space. The Kingmaker and his race had intricate knowledge of the races in this galaxy. From what Starret could see, the military jets and ships were holographically realistic. The Omegan ships looked like the real ships. The Auraoo military defenders bore the marks of the Auraoo fleet. The Critts and the Xulons could have provided that information to the Kingmaker.
The next planet under bombardment from the black ships was not just scorched. It exploded sending planetary bits through the holographic space. The creatures around the table laughed. The Xulon’s hands danced so much it looked like he was playing ragtime.
“An invasion from another galaxy.” Starret said. “This is a military conference. They’re coordinating strategy. Since they’re meeting, I’m guessing the invasion date is very soon.”
“That is what I thought too. That is why I had to get this information to you. No official from any Federation government would trust me. You must use this to convince them what danger they are in.” He sighed. “At one time, as difficult as it is to believe, the Critts were a good race. They were humanitarian and compassionate. Over the years they become corrupted.”
“It happens.”
Uherlt shook his head. “I cannot let them do this. I must betray my own people.”
The holograph disappeared. The Kingmaker began gesticulating. The other two nodded their heads.
The Xulon had a question or two. The Kingmaker’s black glove waved away his objections. The Xulon looked annoyed at first, then shrugged. Starret frowned. It was not like a Xulon to peacefully defer to another. Either this Xulon had good manners or the blind guy was very powerful. Starret decided the latter view must be the correct one.
For a minute or so, no one spoke. Then the Kingmaker stood up and walked back toward his ship with his bodyguards around him.
“Game over.” Starret said. “Or, perhaps, just beginning.”
Chapter 14
Mavers flashed his amiable smile at Belen.
“You know, my daddy used to say we should do at least one good deed a day. He said, ‘In the gambling business, son, you may not meet the finest, most ethical people, and you may have to fight to keep your winnings at times. You may be tempted to pull a few shady things yourself. Doing one good deed a day helps you stay on the right track’”
“Very wise advice, Jim.” Belen said.
“But my daddy never imagined a good deed that would cost me $50 billion. If he knew a good deed cost that much, he might disown me. The Mavers do have a high regard for money.”
“And for good deeds.” Belen reminded him.
Mavers leaned back in his chair. He glanced toward the door where Jaclyn had just exited.
“Are they all like her?”
“Yes. I haven’t been back to Vega for a while, but, yes, I think they are all like her. But Jaclyn and her race need a planet. A nice little out of the way planet where they can live in peace.”
“And the saintly race of unfallen beings don’t, of course, have any money.”
“I don’t believe they use money. Aristolans never need it. No poker players there, either.”
“They’re a threat to our way of life.”
He rubbed his temple, then lowered his voice. “She was amazing. I’ve never seen anyone like her. I’ve never seen such sweetness or such compassion. She’s also the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, but there was no sexual tension in the room. You wanted to… wanted to…”
“Bow before her?”
“Close to it.”
“It is said that hypocrisy is the tribute vice pays to virtue. Bowing is the tribute lesser beings pay to righteousness. Jim, the rest of this galaxy is fallen. I’m apprehensive that the fallen beings would tear the Aristolans apart, like angry ants tearing up a worm. Swarming, biting, destroying. Evil must always destroy innocence. Innocence is an affront to it. I need a safe place for Jaclyn and her race.”
“But you’re a religious woman. You want to hide them away?”
“People can visit them. Or they may go out and preach. But I want a safe haven for them.”
“There are no safe havens for any of us, Belen.”
“We can make their haven as safe as possible. Right now they’re in danger of extermination. Do you to want to see a race full of Jaclyns eliminated from the galaxy? Would you like to have that on your conscience?”
Mavers swallowed. “No. That’s the last thing I want.” He slipped his hand into his coat and brought out the deed. He tapped it on the table. “But I want to be sure. I’m not giving up fifty billion dollars just for one person. Maybe you had her surgically altered or something. You say you’re taking an expedition to Vega?”
“Yes.”
“Then I'll go with you.”
“This is a military expedition, Jim. You’ll be risking your life.”
“Right now I’m not sure what is worth more, my life or fifty billion dollars. On second thought, fifty billion is clearly worth more. But I want to go see for myself if there really is such a race. If there is…” He tapped the deed on the table again. “The planet is yours.”
As I stood frowning, looking solid and Marine-like, Belen’s security forces filed into the yard. Rab had already spent half a day with them, so the men and women in their trim blue uniforms looked snappy. The wind almost clicked as they marched in. They stood eight abreast, arms at their side. Most were humans, but a few of the hands hanging out of the sleeves were furry. A couple were green. Two gold Iotans. Which I applauded. I always thought Iotans were very dependable. When you’re under fire and stress, which we were going to be, it’s always nice to have friends who are dependable.
I walked out and tried to look tough as nails. I remembered the line from Belen from long ago. “You don’t have to try, Logan. You look tough as nails all the time. Try smiling once in a while.”
But a military squad leader is not known for smiles. These men and women had volunteered for this task. So I gave them credit for courage.
“Ladies and Gentleman. First, I thank you that you have volunteered for what will be an incredibly dangerous assignment on the planet Vega. Your duties as a member of this squad will be very different from your duties as a corporate security staffer. Believe me, it will be very, very different indeed. You may have encountered a dangerous individual from time to time in your previous work. Now we will be heading into a full-fledged war, where our enemies are ruthless and do their savage best to kill us. And from the rumors we hear, do their best to feast on our remains. You may never have dreamed that your muscles and organs would be delicacies, but that may be the case. In the few days we have before we leave, Rab and a few other members of my squad will do their best to train you in the art of war.”
I walked up and down the line of blue soldiers. I didn’t mind their youth. Nanobytes can delay signs of aging. I didn’t mind that a few of them had innocent blue eyes. What I did mind was the lack of experience. When you have battle-hardened troops under your command, you have confidence. With green semi-troops in blue uniforms you don’t know what to expect. Half of them might run or stand paralyzed when the bullets and lasers started flying.
“The job of basic training is to eliminate prior behavior and substitute military values and behavior in the recruits. We don’t have time for that now. We only have time for a few basic survival techniques. Such as, ‘Don’t hesitate to shoot the screaming savage alien running toward you with a huge knife in his hand.’ We will be fighting a defensive war. Our enemies will be advancing toward us and we want to kill them before they kill us. So you will be trained in defensive technique. We are not going to be charging toward any armies. We hope to be behind explosives that kill anything that comes toward us. But if our lethal defensive weapons are 98 percent effective – and we are assured that they are – that still leaves a lot of Molochs we have to kill.”
“You will have one last chance to walk away. If you do, there will be no shame. When you signed on with Belen, you did not expect to fight a war. Now that Rab has detailed what you will be facing, you may want to withdraw. If you do, that’s fine. But you have to walk away now. If you turn and run when we are in battle I, or one of my squad members, will kill you. There are several members of this squad who are born-again Christians. So if we have time we will give you a fine eulogy. We’ll have flowers and mourners and a nice plaque that we’ll send to your relatives. We’ll brag about you and send you off in style. But you will be dead. So you have this one last chance to step away. As I said, no one will blame you if you do.”
I stopped and stared at the squad. I expected at least two or three of the men would wave and bid a hasty exit. But no one moved.
I nodded. “All right. From now on you are members of this squad and military rules apply. My twelve men and women are your superiors and you will salute them and say ‘Yes, sir,’ or ‘Yes, ma’am.’ If not, Rab or Stephanie will kick your butt so hard you’ll wind up on another planet. You will obey orders instantly and without question. Because doing your obedience will keep you alive and I would like to bring as many of you back as possible. You do not need to think on this mission, just shoot. You are not trained, experienced soldiers. You don’t know what to think about. If you think, it will get you killed. The only thing you have to achieve on this mission is to do what you are told and shoot the enemy. If you do that, things will work out just fine. Then we c
an complete our mission and go home. Knowing Belen’s generosity, if we succeed in this endeavor she will probably hand us bonuses high enough that we can retire in style.”
Deadly Voyage (Logan Ryvenbark's Saga Book 1) Page 11
