Robert’s eyes widen as a thought springs to mind and leaves his lips. “George said something earlier about prophecies.”
Golward responds slowly, “It is true that every time a new prophecy is due to be revealed, the Atlans become more aggressive.” His long hair begins to quiver as he continues, “Their last prophecy is due to be revealed soon, really soon.” He turns his gaze to Cindy, and states with foreboding, “And this one is supposed to be when the Atlans gain the knowledge to rule the Galaxy.”
The main view changes to reveal Regent Voknor’s features. He dispenses with pleasantries and states, “Join me on my flagship.”
Cindy nods her head as she replies, “Okay, I will see you soon.”
Regent Voknor pauses, before insisting, “George too.”
Before Cindy can reply, the Regent vanishes, to be replaced by the stars once more. She trembles as the ramifications of the attack on Earth continue to affect her.
John stands and says, “I will find George and meet you in the hangar bay.”
Cindy blinks away fresh tears that threaten to fall. She takes a huge breath and then orders, “Joe, just do the best you can. Peter, the ship, what’s left of her, is yours.”
Joe and Peter nod their assent, then watch as Cindy leaves the bridge.
The shuttle ride to the Regent’s flagship is brief and quiet. George has left his bodysuit on the Terran, and fidgets in his chair. He feels that his time would be better spent on repairs, rather than talking. Cindy glances from John to George, her mind races as she feels a building trepidation about meeting the Regent.
John expertly lands the shuttle in the cavernous hangar deck of Regent Voknor’s flagship. As the shuttle’s ramp opens, the thick Gamin atmosphere enters, causing all three of them to cough while the alien air fills their lungs. They quickly adjust to the foul smell, as they know from experience it is not harmful. Stepping down the ramp, they immediately become aware of the heavier gravity, and the enormity of the Regent’s vessel. Numerous shuttles hang suspended from the ceiling and walls, while the floor is occupied by dozens of strange vehicles. Gamin are milling about, many of them stop and stare at the three humans, their expressions unreadable.
As one of the Gamin strides their way, George surprises John and Cindy when he steps toward the alien and excitedly calls out, “Sharz!”
Sharz stops before George, and says, “I am pleased to see you, friend. Follow me, the Regents are waiting.” He casts his gaze at Cindy and John before he turns and strides away.
Cindy and John are awed by the size of the massive spacecraft as they silently follow Sharz and George to the bridge. Once there, they see Regent Voknor, and two other robed Gamin, along with a slew of others sitting at various consoles. The three robed Gamin are in the midst of a heated discussion.
Regent Voknor stares at the others as he states, “They lost their planet saving us.”
“The fewer of them in the galaxy, the better.” One of the robed Gamin replies with obvious disdain.
“They’re not Atlans” Voknor retorts forcefully.
“Could have fooled me.” He snorts back.
The third robed Gamin tilts his head toward the entryway of the bridge, effectively ending their discussion. Cindy is nervous, as the conversation was clearly not going in their favor.
Sharz stops, bows, then says, “My Regent, I present to you, the human delegation.”
Regent Voknor motions to Cindy as he turns his gaze to the other robed Gamin and says, “I present to you, Regent Hemlax and Regent Jukalore.” He steps toward John and says, “George, I know well, and Cindy is your leader, but this one. I don’t know.”
John is tall, and not used to having to look up at anyone to make eye contact. He blanches when he meets the Regent’s yellow eyes with their vertical iris. This is the closest he has been to a Gamin, and he can smell a mustiness about the alien. He lowers his gaze, and stammers nervously under Voknor’s intense scrutiny. “I am John.”
Cindy begins to step forward, but stops when George touches her arm. She frowns as she glances at him, and is about to speak, but his serious expression stops her from doing even that.
George steps forward, bows his head, then states formally, “Regents, we thank your clans for their sacrifice and assistance in the battle against our mutual foe, the Atlans.”
Voknor turns to the other two Regents as he replies, “He honors us with his words.”
“Words!” Jukalore spits out. “Three of my fleet were lost during that futile undertaking.”
Regent Hemlax adds his voice, “I must retire and repair my fleet. I bid you farewell.”
George’s eyes dart from one Regent to the next as his mind races. He glances at Cindy, before he boldly states, “Come and repair at our colony world. It is far from the Atlans.”
Cindy takes the cue and adds, “Our colony has vast resources, which we are more than willing to share with you.”
Regent Voknor’s reply is almost instantaneous, “I agree. It would be better to continue this discussion in orbit of a world that offers resources, than in the emptiness of space.”
Jukalore growls his reply, “Where is this safe world? We are already far beyond the reach of the Atlans, and yet still, here they are.”
Hemlax states, “My clan will accept your offer, as should we all.”
Jukalore stares at Hemlax and Voknor and then strides off the bridge. As he departs he glares at Cindy, and says, “My clan will repair at your safe world. After that task is done, I hope to never see your kind again.” In a parting gesture he bares his teeth at her, and flexes his forearms causing the bony protrusions to rise and fall threateningly.
Hemlax turns to Voknor and says, “His clan has suffered greatly, as have we all. I will see to it that he joins us at the next meeting. There is a lot to discuss.”
“Agreed.” Voknor replies.
Hemlax strides off the bridge, leaving Cindy, George, and John to wonder what will happen next.
George nervously asks, “Were your clans able to save many of us?”
Voknor tilts his head as he replies, “Jukalore and Hemlax have survivors on their ships. Do not fear, they will be attended to.”
Cindy gulps as she asks, “How many were saved?”
“They did not say, but the number is small.” Voknor replies.
“I know of an underground facility, one that was still intact when we left.” Cindy presses.
George looks to Regent Voknor and pleads, “My wife and son, along with many others, may yet be alive.”
Voknor places his clawed hand on George’s shoulder and replies, “I cannot risk my clan, not even for you.”
Sharz stands tall and offers, “I will go.”
The Regent’s bridge crew all turns and stares at Sharz. His offer is unprecedented.
Regent Voknor remains quiet for a few moments, before he finally responds, “Your ship is yours to command, Prime Sharz.”
Sharz bows, then address George, “If your family lives, I will bring them to you.” He glances to the Regent, lowers his gaze respectfully, and then strides off the bridge.
“To other matters.” Voknor states, “There is no time to transfer your crew. We will eject your ship’s engines and tow you.”
Cindy frowns in annoyance as she responds, “We have no time, and yet you insisted we come over here?”
George cringes at her tone. He expects a harsh response from Regent Voknor, as does the Regent’s command crew.
Regent Voknor stares at Cindy for a moment, then replies, “Good! You are a real leader.” He continues assertively, “The other Regents wanted to meet you, as was their right, having lost clan members to save your kind.”
Cindy quietly absorbs the realization that Gamin ships were destroyed in the defense of Earth. She lowers her head, and says respectfully, “Your people did the best they could. I wish I could offer more than my thanks.”
Regent Voknor stares at Cindy, and then states, “It is I who should be grat
eful. The Atlans devastated your world because you came to assist my clan.”
Cindy feels a chill work its way up her spine while an odd buzzing sound fills her ears. She staggers with the sudden comprehension that she is responsible for Earth’s fate. She turns to George in anguish.
George closes his eyes as he directs his thoughts to the Atlans, and their attacks. A moment later, he opens them and states with sureness, “It was only a matter of time before we did something to gain the Atlan’s attention.”
Regent Voknor interrupts them when he says, “Stay here. My crew will secure your vessel.” He motions to one of his command crew, who immediately taps on his console.
On the Terran, Joe stares at his console in surprise. A single large symbol occupies his screen, and as he glances at the others, he notices the same symbol on theirs. He taps on it and reads the words, ‘Master Control’. He does not know if he should be happy or concerned.
Specialized explosive bolts detonate on the rear of the Terran’s hull. Seconds later the ship’s main engines fall away. Thrusters pulse as the crippled ship is moved to a position directly over the Regent’s ship. The Terran’s landing struts extend, and make contact with the flagship’s hull. The second they do, massive clamps swing around the struts, firmly gripping them. The Terran’s thrusters shut down as the ship begins to lower itself.
The second the process is complete, Regent Voknor orders, “Go!”
The enormous flagship transitions to faster than light speed without so much as tremor. Cindy stares at the screen, with its kaleidoscope of colors, and with mounting concern, asks, “Do you know where our colony is?”
Regent Voknor begins to laugh, his teeth flashing as he opens his mouth widely. With a glint in his eye, he states, “We have been monitoring you for some time. It pleased me greatly that your kind established a colony far away. But then you disappointed me by reentering the war zone.”
“Oh.” Cindy replies, not sure if she should be concerned or flattered, by the scrutiny that they have been under.
The trek to New Earth takes a few hours, during which time, the Terran’s repair crews work feverously to seal hundreds of leaks. Some are small fractures, while other areas are gaping holes through which the sparkle of particles striking the flagship’s navigational shields can be seen. In some cases, entire sections are completely missing, causing the crews to perform hasty repairs to damaged bulkheads instead.
Henry slumps down in his chair, defeated. There are mercifully few who require medical attention. He stares at his shaking hands and mumbles, “Why?” He contacts Cindy, who is still on the Regent’s flagship, and once he has her on his view screen, reports his depressing news. “Cindy, thirty six people have committed suicide since we left Earth.”
Cindy is mortified. She frowns in confusion, shakes her head slowly, and asks, “Why?”
Henry replies, “Some can’t cope with our situation, and I have to say, we’re pretty screwed, if you ask me.”
Cindy puts her head in her hands, she too is almost at breaking point.
Regent Voknor stands, strides to the screen and says, “Your people can survive, if they have the will.”
Cindy gazes at the massive view screen on the Regent’s flagship at the mesmerizing effect of traveling at many times the speed of light. She can see the Terran resting on the forward hull. Her ship looks strange with its engines missing. While she gazes at the ship the image changes. She glances down at her feet in surprise, she did not feel the main drive disengage. A distant star shines brighter than all the rest. New Earth’s sun.
Cindy takes a deep breath then says, “New Earth, is our new hope.”
Chapter Eleven - Alliance - A new Beginning
Location:
Hawking
New Earth
Barbara sits at her desk with a trembling hand held to her mouth. She stares up at Cindy with tear filled eyes, and asks disbelievingly, “Earth, is gone?”
Cindy takes a deep breath as she silently nods her head.
Barbara shifts her gaze to the others in the room, searching for something that will tell her that this is some cruel joke. George looks like a shattered man, while Joe and John have vacant expressions. She frowns at the sight of Radclyf, the man’s features appear to be as hard as chiseled rock. Her frown deepens when she notices Emma leaning against Peter, staring blankly ahead. He is holding her close to him, and gently rubbing her back. Patrick stands off to one side, angrily punching one hand into the other, over and over again. Robert sits quietly by, his blank expression indicates that he too is struggling to cope with his own feelings.
Cindy timidly comments, “It’s not really gone, but it may as well be.”
Barbara’s mind is still reeling from the news when Regent Voknor enters the room. Hemlax, Jukalore, and Waazh, follow closely behind. They stride purposefully to the large desk, then stop.
Regent Voknor places a device on the table, and explains, “A translator.”
Cindy turns her attention to the Gamin, clears her mind, then says, “I thank you for your efforts, and offer you my deepest gratitude for your own losses. You risked much to save our people.”
Regent Voknor replies, “Sharz may yet save more, if your old facility is as resilient as I hear it is.”
Cindy glances to George as she replies, “It is the toughest underground structure in Europe. It will stand.” She closes her eyes for a moment, then asks the one question that is on everyone’s minds. “How many people were you able to rescue?”
Regent Voknor glances to his colleagues, then answers, “Three thousand two hundred fifty-eight humans, and eighty-seven quadrupeds.”
Barbara glances around, confused. Frowning, she queries, “Quadrupeds?”
Regent Voknor stares at Barbara as he replies, “There were more, except…” He stops talking and glances at the two Gamin behind him.
Regent Hemlax lifts his head as he defensively states, “We thought the survivors were bringing food stocks with them.”
Regent Voknor continues talking, “My fellow Regents processed a number of quadrupeds before they realized that you keep animals as companions.”
Barbara’s jaw drops as she states, “Oh my, you ate people’s pets?”
The room becomes quiet as some of those present reel in shock, while others stifle chuckles. After all that has happened, the thought of the Gamin handing people back their pets, cooked, is a little too much. Especially as the Gamin were doing what they thought was the right thing, and indeed a privilege, serving meat.
Cindy steps toward Regent Voknor, and with compassion, requests, “Please don’t be hard on your people. They didn’t know.”
Regent Voknor replies, “They do not know your people the way I do, that much is true.”
Regent Hemlax steps closer to the table, and leans on it heavily, making the wood creak. He changes the topic, angrily hissing, “Your people either failed to act, or in some cases, your governments failed to issue warnings. Many of your kind ran from our ships, some fired weapons at us.”
Regent Jukalore mumbles quietly, “They are a stupid race, we should have let them perish!”
Before anyone else can react, Regent Voknor spins and glares at Jukalore. His tone changes as he spits out the words. “Do you forget that these people came to my clan’s aid, and were the first to arrive?”
Jukalore steps closer to Regent Voknor as he replies, “We are both clan leaders, and my voice carries equal weight. Many of my clan fell, saving your friends, what do you say to that?”
Regent Voknor stares at Jukalore as he replies, “I say that your clan has earned their gratitude. Something I have recently learned means a great deal.”
Golward steps forward and climbs on a chair. He diplomatically says, “We have all lost much. The Atlans, whom we had been at peace with for millennia, are now destroying our research and repair facilities. We are at a loss as to why the sudden change in hostilities.”
Regent Voknor turns to Golward, who
is still shorter than him, and says, “The last Atlan prophecy is to be revealed soon. The one that legend says will set them as masters of the entire galaxy.”
George experiences a moment of unusual clarity. He steps forward and says, “We must forge an Alliance if we all are to survive.”
Jukalore snorts at George, then turns to walk away.
George loudly says, “Regent, here me out.”
Jukalore spins back and hisses, “You dare order me!”
George hesitates for a second, recovers, and then boldly states, “You are in the presence of my clan leader, and as I have shown my respect to you, I demand that you respect her.”
Regent Voknor tilts his head, switching his gaze from George to Jukalore, and then the other clan leaders. He advises his counterparts, “We are indeed in the presence of their leader, and should show the same respect we demand of others.”
Jukalore growls as he reluctantly replies, “I yield, and will hear what you have to say.”
George glances at Cindy, then Barbara, who nods supportingly for him to continue. With a deep breath, he says, “We have a planet, Golward’s people have technology, and your people have fleets of ships. If we work together, we would be a formidable force.”
The room remains intensely quiet, so George continues. “The Kord could build a new space station, one able to defend itself, especially with the aid of the Gamin clans. As for us, we have mining facilities, and will share this planet’s resources with you all.”
Regent Voknor glances to his fellow clan leaders and says, “We would have a safe haven to rebuild our forces.”
Golward shakes excitedly as he says, “With the help of the Gamin, we could build a new space station.” He pauses for a moment, then mumbles his thoughts, “A smaller, well-armed, facility.”
Alliance (Terran Chronicles Book 4) Page 31
