Human Chronicles Part 2 Book 3: A Galaxy to Conquer

by T. R. Harris

  ********

  “There is no doubt as to your analysis, Tech?” Command-Overlord Enulic asked pointedly.

  “None, my Lord. The gravity signatures of the Human ships are completely unique and identifiable, based on the data sent the Kracori sent with regards to the one Human ship they’ve studied.”

  “And yet now you can no longer detect them?”

  “The Humans have changed course, however, it is only a matter of time before we locate them again.”

  “And the signatures do not match with the other large ships we are pursing?”

  “Those signatures are more conventional—albeit much more intense considering the size of the vessels. Unless the Humans are employing two different drive systems, we are looking at separate entities.”

  “You can say it, Tech: We are following Klin vessels.”

  “It would appear so, my Lord.”

  Enulic was silent as he digested the information he now knew to be true: There was a large Human fleet very near—and now missing—and possessing a superior drive system, while a grouping of incredibly large Klin spaceship lay directly ahead of them. In the meantime, there was a fully-intact Kracori fleet of questionable loyalty to their rear, along with another group of allied starships willing to serve as fodder in defense of their precious Nebula.

  “Your orders, my Lord,” the Tech said breaking his troubled thoughts.

  “Maintain course, and send out even more drones. Maintain all vigilance. I will confer with the Elder.”

  Chapter 44

  “One more online,” Kaylor’s voice reported through the ship’s intercom.

  One wasn’t going to do, Adam thought. He could now see no less than four formations of Kracori ships vectoring for an intercept. And normally the two hundred or so ships behind him would not have been a concern, even with three rings down. But the slightest decrease of his forward speed would allow them to draw nearer.

  Whatta bitch, he thought. Only thinking of herself!

  Adam shook his head. For several minutes his thoughts were a conflicting jumble of unwanted distractions—all involving Sherri Valentine—even though he knew he needed complete concentration on his piloting skills. But it was hard. He was furious at her, yet upset with himself for letting his emotions get the best of him. All she had to do was follow his orders. Why was she always giving him lip?

  “Are you okay, Adam?” a voice said to his right. It was Andy Tobias, sitting at the navigation station with Jym.

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” he stated firmly with a determined frown clouding his face.

  “It’s just that you look a little distracted. This is not the time to lose focus. Maybe someone else would do better at the helm.”

  The statement really jarred Adam. Was his mood so transparent?

  “You’re right, Admiral, but I’ll be fine.”

  Tobias matched Adam’s frown. “Mission first, sailor.”

  “Hur-rah.” There was no enthusiasm in his voice.

  “Yeah, whatever, Captain. Just don’t get us all killed because you’re screwed up in the head. That would not serve the Master Chief’s legacy.”

  Adam felt his knees go weak. Tobias was right. Rutledge had unbuckled from his seat to help fight the fire at Trimen’s comm station and fallen when one of the Kracori bolts struck the ship. His head hit a sharp edge of something, abruptly ending the life and career of a SEAL legend. The least Adam could do was get his body back to the fleet for proper honors.

  “Thank you, Admiral,” Adam said. “Mission first; aye, sir.”

  “Two just now going in,” a voice echoed in the pilothouse.

  Adam pressed a button: “That was quick. I’m seeing a surge already. One more to go.”

  “My ATD is helping—more control,” Kaylor’s voice replied.

  Adam looked over at Trimen seated at the comm console. The Formilian returned his gaze with even emotion. He didn’t appear to be moved one way or the other that the tiny device provided by his people was helping to save all their lives.

  Adam applied more power to the generators and the series of microscopic singularities in the space before them intensified. The increase in speed was noticeable and immediate as distances began to increase between them and all their pursuers.

  Adam began to relax. Which all it did was make him think: Whatta bitch....

  ********

  When the third focusing ring came back online the speed of the Pegasus increased by a full thirty-percent with the multiple effects of the rings now realized. There was clear space ahead, and Adam steered the ship towards the estimated location of the Human fleet.

  He was now communicating with them only through coded bursts. They had lost contact with the Juirean fleet and open CW-links could be intercepted if directly aligned with the enemy. Exact coordinates could not be transmitted.

  Sherri and Riyad wisely remained aft of the pilothouse, avoiding Adam even when he got up to go to the head. This thing with Sherri was really bothering him, and he wondered why? Their relationship had been tremulous at best over the years, with nothing firm ever laid down defining the actual parameters. She had taken other lovers in the past, even though Adam had not. He never seemed to have the time—and let’s face it, there weren’t a lot of other Humans females populating the outer reaches of the galaxy. So why was he so troubled by this recent incident?

  And then it struck him: Riyad!

  Never before had Sherri chosen one of his immediate circle of friends over him. This was definitely a territorial thing, and Adam wasn’t even upset with Riyad. He had just been through a terrible ordeal where all hope had been lost. Of course he would welcome the company of a beautiful Human female, even if she was technically with his best friend and teammate. As in most male-female relationships, it was the woman who controlled most of the unions; she had focused in on Riyad, and the poor man had no choice but to go along for the ride.

  As the hours passed, Adam began to place the complex love-triangle into better perspective. He had never felt he could satisfy Sherri’s many needs, not so much sexually, but emotionally. One moment she was restless for more adventure and excitement; the next she was longing for home and a family of her own. Adam had already had his family. They had been taken from him by the Juireans as a result of the evil plotting of the Klin and their sycophant accomplices. And he had been honest with her when he said that family life just didn’t appeal to him anymore. Too much risk of loss again? He didn’t know for sure—”

  “I have some pop-up contacts to our right, Adam,” Jym announced. Kaylor had returned to the pilothouse and was now at the helm. Adam was in the observation seat, allowing his mind to wander now that they were in relatively safe space.

  “Pop-ups?”

  “Yes, they are at the extreme range of our sensors and are either moving away or we are losing contact from our forward motion. See, more of them now.”

  “Same location?”

  “No, these are new.” Concern was growing in Jym’s voice.

  “Kaylor, move us a little to port—left.”

  The Belsonian complied, which only made Jym slap his console. “Now I have pop-ups on the left.”

  Adam’s stomach tightened; he knew immediately what was happening. “Admiral Tobias to the pilothouse!” he cried through the intercom.

  Fifteen seconds later, Andy Tobias entered. Adam didn’t wait for the query.

  “It looks like we have fleets to our left and our right, and we’re moving right down the middle.”

  “Our fleet should be to port,” Tobias stated. “I’d steer that way.”

  “Roger that, but that means the Juirean are right there!” He pointed at the rash of new contacts that suddenly rushed to fill the right side of his forward screen.

  “And here we come,” said Riyad Tarazi as he entered the pilothouse, pointing at the screen himself.

  The left side of the screen suddenly filled with white dots.

  “Oh my god, this is it.” This time it
was Sherri’s high-pitched voice that entered the pilothouse.

  There were now so many contacts on the screen that it appeared as though the screen was whiting out from both sides. And the Pegasus was right in the middle.

  Chapter 45

  “Fire control, target count?” Fleet Admiral Jacob Nash called out from the bridge of The Trident. The voice from CIC came over the bridge 1-MC. “Too numerous to count, sir. We have to break them down by zone.”

  “Then do it! Commander Woodlake, begin designating firing zones, assigning targets as they become known. Allocate assets as required.”

  “Yes sir,” another voice said through the speakers.

  “Admiral Bergmann, I’m heading to CIC,” said Nash as he jumped down from his command chair. “Move the flagship to the rear.”

  “Aye, sir.” Gone was all the familiarity in the conversation. They all had on their battle faces.

  ********

  “The Humans are aligning for an attack, Command-Overlord. Our ships are responding in kind, however, at the speed of the aliens, we are having trouble identifying individual targets.”

  “Charge all batteries,” Lord Enulic commanded. “Spread disbursements will be required to catch the Humans in flight. Move my ship to the rear so I can maintain command as long as is possible.”

  “Yes my Lord.”

  Chapter 46

  “This is crazy!” Adam yelled out. “The Juireans are not our enemy—not really. It’s the fucking Kracori!”

  “Well from the look of things, it’s the Juireans and us who are going to annihilate each other. And who does that leave as the last man standing?” Admiral Tobias said, venom dripping from his voice.

  “Well I can’t let this happen,” Adam declared. “Jym, can you set up a broadband signal to both fleets.”

  “Yes I can, if anyone will respond.”

  “Do it, and let’s find out.”

  “What are you going to say?” Sherri asked as she and Riyad buckled into seats along the rear bulkhead.

  “Heluva I know. But I have to try something.”

  “Go ahead Adam; you’re broadcasting.”

  “This is Captain Adam Cain aboard the Pegasus,” he announced. “I am presently located between the Human and Juirean fleets. Please respond.”

  Almost immediately the speakers crackled. “Captain Cain, this is Fleet Admiral Nash. I acknowledge your location. Proceed to port at best possible speed. You will be cleared through the line.”

  “Thank you sir, but I’m not leaving just yet.”

  “What?”

  “Adam, I have another link coming through,” Jym said.

  “Link them all together, Jym.”

  “This is Adam Cain; am I speaking with the Juirean fleet command?”

  “This is Elder Wydor bu Sulic. Is this really Adam Cain I am speaking with?”

  “Elder Wydor! I was not aware you were aboard the fleet. So you remember me?”

  “How could I not? Our last physical encounter was on Juir, and then we had a conversation following that. You do tend to show up at the strangest times.”

  Adam let out a small chuckle. Ain’t that right, he thought. “Elder Wydor, I also have Fleet Admiral Jacob Nash on this link. I believe we all need to talk before something drastic happens.”

  “Adam Cain, your fleet is aligning for an attack upon my forces. We will defend ourselves.”

  “It is your forces who have been stalking my fleet, Mr. Wydor,” Admiral Nash countered.

  “Either way, we just to all need take a moment at think about this,” Adam said. “If the two of you fight, it will be that bastard Nomar who comes out the winner.”

  “Nomar?” Nash asked.

  “He is the Langril of the Kracori race—their leader,” replied Elder Wydor. Adam smiled. At least he had the two sides talking.

  “That’s right,” said Adam. “So my question to you, Lord Wydor, is why have the Juireans allied with the Kracori against the Humans? It was the Kracori who destroyed Juir, not us.”

  “We have not allied with the Kracori, Adam Cain. That would presume an equal status of our races. The Kracori surrendered to the Juireans. They have offered their services at our direction.”

  “That’s not what Nomar is telling us. He’s saying you are allies, and together you will defeat the Humans. And yet, where are his forces now?”

  “It was not our intent to confront the Humans when we came to the Nebula. And yet, you must admit, your race has designs on the destruction of the Juireans.”

  “Just as the Juireans have on us.” Nash again countered.

  “That may be so,” Wydor said through the link. “Yet that is simply a natural dynamic between two powerful entities. Each seeks to absorb the other.”

  “Chemistry lessons aside,” Adam said, “whatever our differences, the natural culmination of that situation would come at a future date—”

  “Unless it comes now,” Wydor interrupted.

  “To what end, Lord Wydor? Your fleet is larger, yet ours is swifter. We will end up destroying each other. And then the Klin—who you have sought for over four thousand years—will survive. And the Kracori, the enemy of both our races, will emerge as the strongest military force in the galaxy. Do you want them assuming control of the Expansion?”

  “Juireans are once more on Juir, Adam Cain,” Wydor said. “The Juirean people are more than this fleet. We will survive to counter the Kracori insurgency.”

  “But why should you? Let us do it.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Admiral Nash, your forces are fully capable of defeating the Kracori, even with a full fleet, are they not?”

  “That’s what we came for.”

  “And Lord Wydor, the Klin are directly in front of you. And from our information, there are twenty huge ships, not just the five you’ve been tracking. This may be all the Klin that are left. Are you prepared to let them escape while you fight a losing battle with the Humans?”

  The speakers within the pilothouse of the Pegasus were quiet for an uncomfortably long time. Adam looked around the room at all the questioning eyes staring back at him. Damn, this is taking a while.

  “Adam Cain ... and your Admiral Nash,” Wydor’s voice finally emerged from the speakers. “I will make you a proposal.”

  “Go ahead,” said the voice of Fleet Admiral Nash.

  “A ceasefire, as my forces pursue the Klin and your forces engage those of the Kracori—as Adam Cain has suggested. It is indeed more significant to the Juireans to defeat the Klin than anything else at this point in time. And we will accept as gratification of sorts that the Kracori will suffer at the hands of the Humans.”

  “Admiral?” Adam said.

  “I’m here Mr. Cain. I find the proposal acceptable, even though I wonder what is to keep the Juireans from attacking us after we’ve engaged the Kracori? Their defeat of the unarmed Klin ships will take little effort on their part. And after fighting the Kracori, our fleet would be vulnerable to a Juirean counter strike.”

  “Spoken as a true warrior, Admiral Nash,” Wydor replied. “I understand your trepidation and would feel the same if the roles were reversed. So as an amendment to my last proposal, I offer half my fleet as a supplement to yours as you go to meet the Kracori. With such assistance, your fleet will not suffer as many losses, and yet my fleet will to some degree. I feel that is an equitable arrangement.”

  Adam raised his eyebrows and looked to an equally-startled Admiral Andy Tobias.

  “Lord Wydor,” Nash began, “I find your offer more than generous. We would have to work out the logistics—command structure and the like—but I believe that would work from our perspective. But how will your units feel about working with the Humans?”

  “I am the Elder of the Juirean Council Elite, Admiral Nash; they will do as they are instructed.” Adam could almost hear the smile in Wydor’s voice.

  “Then it’s settled!” Adam announced. “Now if you will both stand down your forces, m
aybe I can return to the fleet for a hot meal and beer.”

  “It is agreed,” said Elder Wydor.

  “Roger that, Captain. Proceed to docking. First round is on me.”

  ********

  “The progress is very slow, Pleabaen,” the Klin on the screen was saying. “The path through the Shield can be cleared ahead of a pod, but then the orbits of other material is altered to fill the void and to also assault the pod. Another will be required to follow closely behind to keep the path clear.”

  The glory of the Dysion Shield was evident in all its brilliance from the observation deck of the pod Wesselian Velsum was aboard. Even though he couldn’t see it from here, he knew that the first pod in the Colony was now slowly working its way through the Shield. And yet as the technician on the screen had related, the pod was taking considerable damage to its rear as more material was being drawn in by the enormous depth of the gravity-well required to move the massive spacecraft.

  “Then send Twelve in behind. This passage is a learning experience for us all, and we must apply our new knowledge as it is acquired.”

  “I will order it so.” The screen went blank.

  Even though the going was slow and treacherous, Velsum was still feeling extremely energetic and pleased with himself. The bulk of his Colony had met no hostile forces on their approach to the Shield, and even now, there was news that Senior Fellow Huriniss’s five pods were now clear of their Juirean pursuers and due on station momentarily.

  The last report Huriniss had made did indicate that the Juirean and Human forces had made contact and were positioning for an engagement. The five remaining elements of his Colony had proceeded out of the area on maximum drive, and were now well clear of the combat zone.

  Velsum tried to visualize the incredible energies now passing through space as the mighty fleets collided. It would be the largest single space battle to ever take place in the galaxy. And they would destroy each other, taking with them to the grave their knowledge of the Klin Colony. The Klin would live—as they had always lived—and would continue to plan for a time when they would assume their rightful place within the universe. The Klin had started it all, only to have their birthright stolen from them by the Juireans. And now those same Juireans were paying the ultimate price for their—