Warlords Saga

by Brian K. Larson

Jed shook his head and then shot a finger at his Lieutenant, “You better be straight with me, Mister!”

  “Yes, Sir, um, yeah... straight, Sir...”

  “Confirmed, Sir,” Lieutenant Collins reported, “Henderson’s right, there’s about six to seven hundred Sasquatch. They just came out of nowhere. Now they’re sending landing coordinates.”

  Jed turned to the speakers that continued to crackle Gor’con’s voice, “Ambassador, I hate to interrupt, but I think your message was received.”

  Gor’con’s attention was turned back to Jed and the comm link, “Yes, Admiral. My warriors have made themselves known. Again, with your permission, I will dispatch transports from this ship to pick them up.”

  “Yes, of course, Ambassador. Is your ship space-worthy enough to make the voyage?”

  “Yes, I believe it is, Admiral. We have made the necessary hull repairs, thanks to Captain Rollins’ teams.”

  “Hey,” Race protested, “What about my teams?”

  “Your team is Captain Rollins’ team now, Colonel,” Jed reminded.

  “Geez, can’t a guy get any credit around here?”

  “Oh, it’s alright, Colonel,” Jed mused, “I will give you credit for finding Ms. Danielle and the others.”

  “Gee, I can hardly contain the enthusiasm, Sir.”

  “What was that, Race?”

  “Oh, ah, nothing, Sir...”

  “You’re radio was breaking up. I wasn’t sure what you said. Can you please repeat?”

  “Sir...”

  “Never mind, Colonel Jennings,” Jed chuckled, “You’re still too easy of a mark. Carry on then, and thank you, Colonel. You’ve done a great job.”

  “Thank you, Sir,” Race puffed his chest forward like a rooster.

  “See,” Jed whispered, turning to his XO, “That’s why we don’t give him much praise around here.”

  Commander Jameson smiled, whispering his answer, “Aye, aye, Sir.”

  “What was that,” Race asked, “We can’t hear you over here, Sir.”

  “Oh, it’s nothing, Colonel.”

  “That’s what I thought, Sir, just checking...Sir. We’re going to launch three transports. It should take a few hours to get the Antarians aboard. Colonel Jennings signing off.”

  Race turned to Gor’con, “So, it shouldn’t take much for me to learn how to fly one of your transports, should it?”

  “It would be an easy task if one of your Eridonian friends where here.”

  “I know, I know, but I couldn’t get them to agree to another trip to Serintin.” Race cupped his hand over his mouth and whispered, “I think they had just about enough of Serintin on the last time out.”

  “So be it. Ruki’, will maintain our current orbit. Empress Danielle, will you stay on the ship with Ruki’ and myself?”

  “Yes, Gor’con,” Danielle nodded, “But are you sure the young one is ready for what lies ahead?”

  Ruki’ stepped forward with a smile, “Yes, my Empress, I need little training. I fully understand all the controls of this ship now.”

  “But you only studied them for an hour, at best,” Race protested.

  Gor’con gave Race a wide smile, “You will find that Ruki’ is a quick study. If she says she is ready, she is ready.”

  “Wow, you trust her this much?”

  “She is of our kind, why would I not trust anything she tells me?”

  “It’s just that...”

  “Yes, Race?” Danielle mocked.

  “It’s just we’re kind of used to kids, um, how shall I say... embellishing, from time to time. You know, they exaggerate how good things are?”

  “My dear human friend, you have a lot to know and understand about our kind. We do not embellish. We are taught never to lie. Is this not the same as your kind?”

  “Well, um, no, not really.”

  Gor’con shot Race a puzzled glance.

  “What I mean is, we do teach those values... it’s just that sometimes they are not followed.”

  “Your younglings do not listen?” Gor’con grabbed his belly and roared with laughter, “We have much to learn about you humans. None of our young ones will refuse to listen to instruction. That thought would never occur to us!”

  “I fail to find the humor in that, Ambassador.”

  “Neither do I,” Gor’con continued to laugh.

  Race asked with a straight face, “Then why are you laughing?”

  “I find it amusing that the humanoid race that dominates the surface of this planet have such difficulties raising their young.”

  Race extended his arm, pointing the way to the landing bay, “Shall we get to the task at hand?”

  “Yes, of course,” Gor’con finished, still chuckling.

  ~

  Mister Thelix only gave Race a ten minute introduction to the transports’ controls. He smiled and nodded with every instruction and then Race padded the large Antarian on the shoulder, “Thanks, I think I got this.”

  “Well, it is designed with the busy pilot in mind. All of our ships are easy to master. Mostly with automation.”

  In other words, I’m really just along for the ride.”

  “Yes, mostly. You just have to land and take-off again, the computers will do the rest.”

  “Very well, my good man. I’ll see you when we return.”

  “Yes indeed, I shall take my leave and prep my ship. Lord Darnash has relayed your target coordinates.”

  “Yes, I see them coming in now; same place we were when we started this fun filled ride; the Pacific Northwest.”

  “We thought it would go soother if you were with those of our kind that you have already met.”

  Race tapped the side of his head, “Always thinkin’ ain’t ya?”

  “I do my best, Race.”

  “That was a joke, my man. Boy, I still have to teach you folks humor. Sheesh!”

  The hatch sealed as Mister Thelix left Race for his own ship.

  “Here we go,” Race said over the ship’s modified headset.

  Danielle’s voice crackled from the receiver in Race’s ear, “Are you sure you can reach the peddles?”

  “Oh my, The Empress still has a sense of humor... you guys should take notes.”

  “Seriously, Colonel Jennings,” Race heard Admiral Fitz’ voice in his ear, “Those controls are a bit on the large side for us. She was being serious.”

  “Oh, ah...okay sure thing... and, YES, I can reach the peddles.”

  “Gotcha!” Jed teased.

  “Admiral...”

  “Good luck, Colonel. Empress, Transport One is cleared to launch!”

  Jed smiled at his XO as Race’s panic stricken yell sounded over the comm’s static, “Ohhhhhh Ssshiiiiiii...”

  Race instinctively grabbed the control stick as the transport shot from the Antarian launch bay.

  “Let go of the control stick, Colonel,” Darnash warned through the wireless comm link. “She will move to your target area and all you have to do is set her down.”

  Race let go of the stick in front of him, and continued to hold his breath from the speed he approached the atmosphere.

  “Aren’t I coming in a little too hot over here, over?!”

  “Nonsense,” the radio again crackled Darnash’s voice. “Mister Thelix, are you on course to your target location?”

  “Affirmative, Lord Darnash. Time to target is ten minutes.”

  Darnash smiled and continued transmitting, “Very good. I am nearing my location now. Colonel Jennings, how close are you?”

  A panicked voice sounded through the comm link, “Very close! Too close! Oh-my-god, I’m gonna die!”

  “Relax, Colonel...”

  “I know, I know, she’ll do the flying! T-time to impact, er target, is one minute!”

  “Good, you should be over your target landing zone. Just remember to extend the feet and gently set it down.”

  “I know how to lower the landing gear,” Race took the stick in his hand and activated the l
anding sequence. The ship settled gently onto the soft tundra of the clearing.

  Race unbuckled his harness and opened the hatch.

  He jumped to the ground and looked around. Tapping his ear piece to confirm his position, “I’m down. The door’s open. Nobody’s here. Maybe the coordinates were off?”

  “They’re all around you, Colonel,” Darnash replied.

  A rustling in the brush near the transport caught Race’s attention.

  His jaw dropped at the sight of the Sasquatch walking towards him. Some had strange weapons slung over their shoulders, while others carried supplies toward the transport.

  Within minutes, two hundred Sasquatch had appeared at the landing site.

  One familiar Sasquatch made his way through the crowd and extended his free hand to Race, “Greetings Colonel Jennings, we meet again.”

  “Akua!”

  “Yes, on behalf of the clan of Grey’con, we offer our assistance. It is what we were brought here for. Now it is time that we return to our home world to reclaim our real heritage.”

  “Let’s start boarding then,” Race offered, “I’ll lower the cargo ramp.”

  “Very good,” Akua smiled, “I trust my daughter isn’t giving you much trouble?”

  “Ruki’ is fine, Akua. She’s the one steering the ship up there,” Race said pointing to the sky. “You should be very proud of her.”

  Niryah came to Akua’s side and held him at the waist, “We are very proud of our Ruki’! I always knew she was meant for something special.”

  The two brothers-in-law, Davan and Felvek, joined their ranks, “I never thought I would be this close to another humanoid so soon.”

  “Nice to see you too, Davan.”

  “My brother means no disrespect,” Felvek added, “Davan often uses his tongue before his brain has finished his thought.”

  “Now that’s quite enough quibbling, you two,” Niryah scolded. “Come, help your nephews with loading the supplies.”

  Davan shot her sister a glance and then back to his nephews, “Kuhar can carry twice as much as I. I will pair with him, Felvek, you pair with Rehor for a slightly lighter load.”

  “We should be gettin’ a move on. However we get this ship loaded, I take off in thirty minutes.”

  “Point taken, Race Jennings,” Davan smiled.

  The Sasquatches’ completed the loading in twenty minutes and Race shut the hatch.

  “Antarian Transport One, to the Rock. Am I clear to take-off?”

  “Affirmative, Colonel,” Lieutenant Henderson relayed from the Rock, “You are cleared for take-off.”

  Race grabbed the control stick and held his breath once more. The ship lifted off and quickly sped toward the sky.

  Admiral Fitz yanked his headset off, “What the hell was that god-awful noise!?”

  Commander Jameson smirked as he leaned closer to Jed’s ear, “I believe that was Colonel Jennings reporting on the acceleration properties of Antarian transport ships. Again,” Jameson stifled a laugh, “Sir.”

  Jed put the headset back over his ears, “Colonel Jennings, are you alright?”

  The static crackled Race’s high pitched voice, “Fine...Sir...Just...Fine!”

  “Report when you’re ready to depart.”

  “Yes, Sir... no...Problem...Sir,” Race again squeaked.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  ________________________

  Serintin

  Dumakas’ Chambers

  ________________________

  Tumaleka ushered her Grandson back to his private chambers. She closed the double doors and walked to a table. A silver flask and two golden goblets occupied the table.

  “What is this, old woman?”

  “This, my Grandson, is a celebration,” Tumaleka turned away to hide her smirk. She lifted the flask, pulled the cork, and poured a liquid into each silver lined goblet.

  Tumaleka replaced the cork and set the flask back to its place on the table. She lifted a goblet in each hand and walked to Dumakas, “A toast!”

  Dumakas grabbed the goblet from Tumaleka’s left hand and took in a deep sniff of the contents.

  “Ahhhh, such a sweet smell. I’m sure this vintage is just bitter enough and hot as lava from the Crodokian Wastelands to be sure, my Grandmother.”

  Tumaleka smiled in return, held her goblet high, “To victory, Emperor Dumakas!”

  “Too victory!” Dumakas downed the elixir in one gulp and watched Tumaleka as she returned her full goblet to the table.

  “What treachery have you done this time, old woman?! Why have you not taken a drink?”

  “Why Dumakas? You do me an injustice...”

  “Stop with the charade... I’m already... feeling a bit... woozy...”

  “Dumakas, you better lie down before you fall.”

  “You drugged me...”

  “No, not drugged.”

  “Then what,” Dumakas asked as he stumbled to the sofa with a crash.

  “Poisoned.”

  “Poisoned?! Are you mad, old woman?” Dumakas said, fighting to stay awake. “What have you done?”

  “Do not be concerned...”

  “You have gone mad! Guards!” Dumakas tried to yell, but no one came to is aid.

  Tumaleka removed a small purple-colored pouch and drew open the string, “We haven’t a lot of time. Pay attention and listen to me, Dumakas... I needed to kill you just enough for you to travel back to Revein’sev to find out the rest of what the ancient ones told you!”

  “Mad... you are mad, old...woman...”

  “Now,” Tumaleka took a pinch of dust from the pouch and blew it in his face. “It didn’t work the last time I tried because you weren’t really dying.”

  “So you thought... you would... poison me to get... closer to Revein’sev?”

  “Yes. I don’t intend on letting you die, Dumakas. I will save your life once again.”

  “Old... woman... you are... indeed mad! I am... going to... kill you when... this is over.”

  Dumakas’ eyes rolled back into his head. He fell flaccid onto the sofa.

  Tumaleka felt for his pulse and listened to his labored breathing with a smile across her face.

  “There now, isn’t this better? I’m sure you will bring to me what the ancient ones will say to you this time. Just a few more minutes to go, my Grandson... hold on now, I will administer the antidote in a moment or two more... that’s right, die a death, my Grandson... travel to Revein’sev and tell me what it is the ancients speak... NOW!”

  Tumaleka put a hyper spray to his neck. She squeezed the trigger, shooting the antidote into his bloodstream just before the poison had enough time to kill him. She hoped her timing was correct; he had to die so he could hear from the ancient ones of Revein’sev, and she had to revive him soon enough for him to come back and tell her what they said.

  Dumakas’ breathing became more stable and regular. She felt his pulse and noticed his two hearts were beating stronger. Reaching into the purple pouch once more, she pinched an ever so small dose of her Dimeatarian dust and blew it into his face.

  “There now, my Grandson, can you hear me?”

  “Yes... I... I... yes... I can hear you.”

  “Gooood, goooooood,” Tumaleka replied. “Tell me what you saw... did you see any of the ancient ones?”

  “Yes... yes, I saw them... you recalled me... back to you... once again... Revein’sev does not... hold... me...”

  “Tell me what it is they are saying to you, Dumakas. Tell me now!”

  “The ancient ones... yes... they spoke to me... yes... I understand now...”

  “You must tell me what they said, Dumakas!”

  “Must not... she will... return...”

  “Yes, yes, I know that from before. She has undoubtedly found the ancient Blood Scroll by now. You must tell me what it says!”

  “Fear... great fear they feel...”

  “Who, Dumakas? Who carries fear within their hearts? Danielle?”

  �
��The ancient ones...”

  “No, this cannot be so! You say the ancient ones fear?”

  “Yes... great fear of her return... she must not... stop her... she must not...”

  “What is it about her return, Dumakas? Did they not tell you everything, or do I need yet more Dimeatarian dust to extract your answers?”

  Dumakas began to stir and twitch as the powerful effect of the dust seduced him into a deeper trance, “No more dust... must not let... great fear,” is all he could say. “Great fear is in their hearts, for they fear losing their song to us.”

  “You speak in riddles, Dumakas,” she pinched another larger quantity of dust and blew it toward him.

  The powerful, intoxicating dust entered his nostrils, into his sinus cavities, down his wind pipe and through is four lungs. The powerful dust seeped into his bloodstream, and circulated throughout his body. His eyes shot wide open, staring at nothing.

  Tumaleka caught the emptiness within his eyes. She grabbed his shoulders and began shaking him back to consciousness, “Dumakas! You must clarify what you are saying!”

  His glazed eyes began to focus on Tumaleka’s face as she leaned close, begging him with her eyes for his answer, “The ancient ones fear her return. We must stop her from returning... graveness... much sorrow looms for our people of the Rising Star of Antares.”

  “I cannot believe that this could ever happen to Antares! We are the Warlords! Nothing can stop us! Our blood song will live on and sing to us forever!”

  “No... not if she returns... fear... great fear... our song will be lost, never to return… lost forever...”

  “Dumakas!” Tumaleka said, continuing to shake him by the shoulders, “You are making no sense.”

  “What... have you... done to me... old woman?”

  “This is unfortunate. My dust is wearing off already! I cannot risk more at this time...” she pinched an even smaller dose and sprinkled it in front of Dumakas, “Well, maybe just a tad more... Dumakas, you will forever forget what I have done... the poisoning, the Dimeatarian dust... Revein’sev, forget it all when you awaken... you must never remember, lest you shall send me to the ancient ones... do you understand, my Grandson?”

  “Yes, my Grandmother. Drunk you have made me. Sleep now I must... forget Revein’sev... forget poison...”