The Trilisk Revolution (Parker Interstellar Travels)

by McCloskey, Michael

  “Affirmative.”

  “The PIT team needs to get several places in the system. Can you hide our transports?”

  “Affirmative.”

  “And you can use Jason’s network to do all the scans our team needs to do to determine who is Trilisk and who isn’t? We want to be sure. I don’t want to kill any people I’m not sure about.”

  Yet I’m not naive enough to think this can happen without death. Someone, somewhere, is going to die. And it will be on me.

  “Affirmative.”

  “You have the satellites ready to deploy that will hit them?”

  “Affirmative.”

  “So this will be a piece of cake.”

  “Likely, probable, sure.”

  Telisa relaxed a bit.

  Kirizzo is confident. If things get dicey, we could always use the AI.

  Chapter 8

  I can’t believe I’m finally a real member of the PIT team, Jason thought. He had just finished a round of virtual training with Telisa, Caden, Imanol, and Siobhan. They chatted in person, talking about their performance. In Jason’s case, the chat was mostly about his mistakes, but he did not let that get him down.

  Every member of the team was driven to accomplish great things, though they were not always perfectly in line with what Telisa wanted. Jason felt that Cilreth and Maxsym seemed absorbed in their own pursuits and stood apart from the others, who trained together every day in simulated battles. Jason had joined those ranks, and in the last week he had died a hundred different ways in VR training.

  Jason sucked with most hand-held weapons. He knew it. The only area he could hold his own was with a rifle. He had taken up shooting after joining PIT. It was his way of pretending that he had a skill they could ever use in the field. That head start served him well now. Caden and Telisa out-shot him, but he felt he was better at hitting a target than the others when his nerves were not frazzled. He knew how to set up targeting software and configure his rounds for a dozen different long range projectile weapons. He had even practiced plain old manual sighting with three different weapons, just in case he ever had to use a weapon with dead or disabled software.

  Jason had accidentally cut off his own leg with a Veer Ultrasharp three times in simulations. The swords were so sharp even their scabbards had to lock onto the handle, because almost nothing could safely hold the blade unless it clamped onto the sides. Telisa had told him it did not matter much, since they were mostly about advanced ranged weapons, but he kept trying. The sword combat interested him, but he had no background in it.

  Everyone thinks I should be able to use a katana just because I have Asian blood, like it’s something in my genes.

  Telisa sent him a message asking for him to show up for a planning session on their Sol incursion. As the message came in the others paused too, so he got the feeling everyone would be there. Jason had enough time to stop by his quarters if he wanted, but there was nothing to bring. The exercise had been pure virtual so far today, so he did not have to shower or change. He just walked toward the meeting.

  The Clacker was an amazing ship. It felt like a big building on a planet. And the technology was even better. Cilreth told him the entire ship had been Terranized in a few days. Before that it had been a collection of caves with blinking lights and moving sand.

  Crazy. This huge thing is really an alien ship, but now it looks like a luxury home for humans. And we each have our own section the size of a neighborhood.

  Jason was one of the first to arrive for the face to face.

  Normal for the new guy, I bet.

  With a jolt he realized the alien might show up. He became nervous. One by one, the others arrived, but Shiny did not come. Once everyone except Shiny had arrived, Telisa started. Her audience sat around on chairs, soft spheres, or just leaned against the rail next to a set of stairs leading out of the room.

  “It’s time we nail down everyone’s mission so we can make more detailed plans,” Telisa said. “I’ll start with Siobhan because she’s a bit ahead of the rest of us, I think.” To Siobhan she said, “Go.”

  “I’m going after Kagan Spero,” said Siobhan. “He’s the leader of SSFC. I think he’s a Trilisk. The family history is a bit vague in spots, but I see a thread of corporate leaders going way back that makes me think one Trilisk lives and takes on different identities in a fake family. Also he’s very reclusive and lives on an island fortress. It all fits.”

  “And your plan to take on a fortress?” asked Caden.

  “I have the blueprints of the complex. I know what to expect in general. Shiny is going to set me up with some high tech. My plan is not to break in and kill him, but to make him think a major assault is underway and flush him out. He has to have an evacuation plan. Once he tries to leave, by air or water, we’ll have some toys surrounding the island that should get a clear shot. If I have to use the orbital network, I have that option too.”

  “Orbital network?” asked Imanol.

  “That’s my part,” Jason said. He felt nervous, making him speak a bit too quickly. “I’ve contracted to set up a network of sensors that Shiny designed. He says he can use them to identify Trilisks for us anywhere on the surface. Then, when our Vovokan ships arrive, they’ll deploy orbital assets that can strike down Trilisks we identify. We’ll use this to hit some targets outright, but mostly it’s a fallback in case some of our targets get away. We’re lucky so many of them are on Skyhold, I think. Only a few should slip through the cracks.”

  “None are going to slip through the cracks,” Telisa said.

  I stand corrected, Jason thought.

  “So ideally we would strike all of them simultaneously using this system,” Caden said. “The Trilisks will warn each other if we don’t strike all at once.”

  “You said ideally, and that pretty much is the key word,” Cilreth said. Jason got the idea maybe it was the Cilreth copy. “But we have Trilisks in Space Force Command, inside fortresses, and a handful of other places. Yes, we’ll strike those in the open and at the same time, when we can. Those of you going into protected places will get a head start. But after that I expect parts of the plan to drag. We’ll be by the seat of our pants after that.”

  Telisa turned to Imanol.

  “I need Imanol on a remote island that’s home to two people on our list. This couple is immensely powerful and it’s very suspicious that they’re tucked away in such a faraway place. True, sometimes the rich just make beautiful palaces all over the world, but they seldom stay in just one all year long like these two. This mission could be a cakewalk, or you could be walking in to confront two powerful Trilisks. I have a feeling in my gut about these two, Imanol. I think they’re Trilisks. You’ll have the orbital network to support you.”

  “I assume it’s some kind of heavily secured complex like Siobhan’s?” Imanol asked.

  “It appears to be a normal mansion. Large, but not a fortress at all. Of course, looks can be deceiving, especially where advanced technology is involved. We’ll do some more research.”

  Imanol nodded.

  “Caden, as I mentioned, is assigned the Trilisks in Space Force Command. Attempt to identify the targets as Terran or Trilisk. Try to take them out if they are Trilisk. If you can’t take them out, try and alert the Space Force to their presence. I know all that’s a tall order, Caden, especially right there in Space Force Command, but we have to try.”

  Caden nodded. “I know my way around the place, I think. But to get in, I would have to be Space Force.”

  “You are now Space Force, as far as anyone knows,” Telisa said. “Shiny hacked you an identity and a high rank. We need to disguise you to look older. You look like you’re fifteen,” Telisa smiled for the first time that Jason had seen since the last mission.

  Caden looked impressed. Telisa must have sent him more information.

  “Colonel! That’s wild. No one will recognize me, though.”

  “You’re from the frontier, as far as anyone’s concerned. Just
back from a suppression mission and newly promoted. It will be enough to explain away any non-familiarity in the region. Of course the Space Force is too large for everyone to expect to recognize you, especially given the recent build-up.”

  Telisa decided to go next.

  “I already told you we see most of the people on the list are at Skyhold,” Telisa said. “So that’s my problem. Of course at the top of my list is finding out if they are all Trilisks or what. Most likely I expect to find all those on the list are Trilisk, and a bunch of servants that aren’t. If I can identify vulnerable innocents and protect them, then I can take out the Trilisks en masse.”

  “Protect the innocents? Could you really just evacuate them while the Trilisks stand by?” asked Siobhan.

  “Maxsym is participating indirectly,” Telisa said. “He’s developed an agent which can be used to neutralize Trilisk hosts. Terran Trilisk hosts, I mean.”

  Everyone perked up at that one. Telisa continued.

  “We’ll use it on Skyhold.”

  “And what about… the other people?” Caden asked. “Is the poison deadly to normal Terrans?”

  Telisa nodded.

  “Less deadly, for what that’s worth. I’m going to go there and try and get them off Skyhold. Or failing that, try and get the vulnerable ones, those very old or very young, into some shuttles or someplace I can isolate their air supply.”

  “That’ll alert the Trilisks,” Siobhan said.

  “I’ll set the trap first. Then I’ll start getting normal people out of there.”

  “Maxsym has contributed greatly to my mission on Skyhold. He will stay here and continue to build up what we know about alien biology and set up a program in PIT I intend to expand: analysis of alien biology and its applications to improve ourselves.”

  Telisa makes it sound like he’ll be the director of an entire division someday, Jason thought.

  “Cilreth remains in command of Clacker, to coordinate for all of us,” Telisa said. “She’ll be especially focused on the orbital assets which back up Jason’s network for striking down Trilisks anywhere on Earth we find them. This network will also destroy Skyhold, and everyone on it, if that’s what it comes to. I’m calling it right now. If the gas plan fails and we have to kill innocent people to kill 80 some Trilisks, we will. It’s on me.”

  No one spoke up. Telisa continued.

  “We’ll keep working through details in the next couple of days. Then we’ll be there. Any questions?”

  Cilreth spoke quietly. “What happened to the idea that not all Trilisks might be, I don’t want to say evil… that not all Trilisks might be our enemies?”

  “These Trilisks could be living all over the globe, making Terran lives better. Instead I believe they’re sitting at the top one hundred people of a tyrannical government. They’re behind this gigantic military build up. I was being naive before. They’re not our friends.”

  After a moment, Telisa continued.

  “It was too easy to think of a super advanced race as being peaceful and wise and benevolent. That was a false vision all along I put into my head. I invented them before I had really learned about them. I had preconceived notions. Romanticized notions. Now, it’s time to save Earth.”

  It was hard for Telisa to see that. She’s come a long way, Jason thought.

  Everyone mulled it over.

  “Send me the questions as they occur to you. Poke holes in the plans all you want and let me know. If we have to make modifications I want to know sooner rather than later.”

  Chapter 9

  Telisa prepared to communicate with the ships she had detained in deep space. She thought about how angry they must be at her. Right now, they were sure she was the enemy. The thoughts reminded her of the prisoner she had been keeping: Krellis.

  “Cilreth, I need a standard Terran space shuttle,” she sent to her friend. “Just an average shuttle. We need to put the prisoner Krellis onto it and send it over to the Bismarck.”

  “Sure thing,” Cilreth2 answered. Apparently Cilreth’s double had access to link messages to Cilreth. “I’ll ask Shiny to pray one up for us. Or do you need me to synthesize one myself?”

  “Fastest way possible. Have some soldier bots escort Krellis onto the shuttle once it’s ready, please.”

  “Got it covered,” Cilreth2 said.

  Telisa got a link to Admiral Sager on the Bismarck. This time, she did not bother with a visual feed.

  “We’re outside the Sol system and about to begin. I’m sure you hate us very much. Yet I hope you’ve at least thought about what you’re going to do when we release you. Some of the most powerful and influential members of society will be gone.”

  “I actually wish you were from the UED,” Sager said. “Never thought I’d say that to someone, but at least they would be human.”

  “I am human, but I know what you mean,” Telisa said. “You’ll have to declare martial law, I think,” Telisa said.

  “My authority would not extend that far,” Sager said.

  “With these powerful men and women gone, an admiral—especially when acting captain of a powerful warship—will have as good a say as anyone else.”

  “Can I speak with your father? Is he with you?”

  “He died out past the frontier.” Telisa took a deep breath. “We lost several people out there. By the way, I have a Space Force man to return to you. He was sent to spy on us. I’ll be sending him on a shuttle.”

  “We refuse to accept any boarders until we are released,” Sager said.

  “Then I hope he has enough air until we leave,” Telisa said. She cut the connection. Right now, what was important was cleaning up the Trilisks. Nothing she could say would be received well by the Space Force ship. They probably suspected her to be a fake personality created by the aliens that had captured them. The twist of her relationship to Captain Relachik must be odd to them—wouldn’t it be more likely for the aliens to have captured Relachik and drawn her from his memory? Yet Relachik was no longer commanding the Seeker when it was destroyed. They must be wondering if he was a traitor too, or even an alien android posing as a Terran.

  This is not my main problem.

  “We’re ready Shiny,” Telisa said.

  “Proceeding,” Shiny responded.

  Most of the fleet commenced its last approach on Sol. One of Shiny’s ships stayed behind to quarantine the Bismarck until it was time to release her.

  Telisa watched in her personal view. The rest of the team must have been watching, too. They gathered at a common mess on the ship. Caden wore a Space Force field uniform, basically a minimal set of rank insignia over a Veer suit. Siobhan had a stealth suit on. Imanol carried a rifle as well as his usual collection of pistols and wore a Veer suit himself. Maxsym did not show, but Cilreth arrived to see everyone off. Telisa surveyed the PIT team. They looked nervous. She did not feel it. She was calm.

  I should be nervous. I guess I just don’t care as much now that I’m alone.

  The Clacker and the other ships neared the belt. Clacker was supposed to go very close to Earth, but the Thumper would be staying back at the asteroid belt, because Shiny wanted to keep the Trilisk AI as far from Trilisks as he could. The Space Force presence did not react to the incursion.

  The Vovokan technology is still able to hide us. For now.

  The plan called for Shiny to reveal his ships a bit after the teams went into action. Mass confusion would be good, but only after everyone was in place. Alerting everyone too soon might tighten security or give the Trilisks time to act.

  “Shiny? How is it going with the Space Force?” asked Telisa. Her PV had the data, but so much was happening at once that she wanted his take on it.

  “Suppressing detection successfully, effectively, efficiently,” Shiny said.

  The Vovokan ships scattered across the solar system. The Clacker proceeded smoothly toward Earth. It was the most carefully cloaked of all the ships. If the PIT team had their way, no one would know it was ever th
ere.

  “Shiny offer, provide, furnish plan enhancement,” Shiny said. Telisa could see he transmitted the message to everyone.

  “What?” Telisa asked. “Oh, you have some ideas for the attack? It’s a bit late for us to change our plans now. We’ve allocated everyone, and gone through simulations to prepare.”

  “Fallback, backup, plan B.”

  “Good. How would you capture or kill the Trilisks in your plan B?”

  “Traps prepared. Trilisk columns moved close to Earth. Upon use, hidden bomb detonates.”

  “Wow! An exploding Trilisk Motel,” Cilreth said. “They would not see it?”

  “Unknown. Destroy tubes with short, minimal, tiny delay,” Shiny said.

  “Good. If any Trilisks get through the cracks, they might end up in one of those,” Imanol said. “It doesn’t interfere with our plans.”

  Caden walked up toward Telisa and Cilreth2.

  “I hate to mention this but…” Caden trailed off. He looked at Cilreth2.

  “I’m headed for a Vovokan shuttle,” Cilreth2 said. “Only because Clacker will be one of the ships closest to Earth. I’m going to rendezvous with one of Shiny’s ships much farther out.”

  That seemed to satisfy Caden. Telisa listened but did not comment.

  “Are you ready?” Telisa asked Caden. “We have a shuttle we made to bring Krellis over to the Bismarck. They took him after all and sent the shuttle back. I’m surprised it didn’t have a bomb on it. Yes, I checked.”

  Caden nodded. “I have everything on me.”

  Telisa sent him the route to the shuttle. “Good luck,” she said. She offered Caden her hand, and he shook it solemnly. “Thanks for training with me. Thanks for everything.” Then he left quickly.

  “You really think the wunderkind can take out Trilisks in the middle of Space Force Command?” Imanol asked. Despite the snarky nickname, Imanol’s voice did not sound as critical for once.

  “Worry about your own mission,” Telisa said. “You have your Vovokan shuttle picked out?”