Bartoc Secret

by Clara Woods

  “How much?” Corinna asked, leaning forward and folding her hands together. She was the image of self-confidence. Lenah quickly adjusted her own posture to sit up straighter, something that didn’t escape Thuat Jones, who looked at her with soft eyes.

  “You defeated over four thousand of these creatures on Astur. Now, fifty-five thousand are coming,” Buntus said.

  Lenah swallowed.

  “And Cava Dara?” Corinna asked, still not showing any reaction.

  “We’ve sighted several dozen, but they like to hide inside the swarms.”

  Lenah let out a deep breath. They’d barely been able to confront a couple of the ancient creatures on Astur. The battle had only gone that well because the Cava Dara had been mostly absent from it. How would they fight dozens, or even more? Then, there had been the strange feeling that the Cava Dara somehow had communicated with Lenah. It had been so creepy; she hadn’t even brought it up with Corinna.

  “I see that makes you nervous, Miss Callo?” Buntus’s blue eyes landed on Lenah.

  She cleared her throat, realizing how different meetings such as these would be when everyone knew she was a mind mage. People would be wary of her using her ability. Something she definitely didn’t dare do with Martius Buntus. She was left to her own wit. “It’s only the two of us, and we don’t have an effective weapon to counter them. Fifty-five thousand is bad news.”

  “Yes, an unfortunate circumstance it would appear.” Commander Buntus’s lips spread into a cold smile. His teeth were as even and perfect as his face. “Luckily, CPL Corp has just the thing.” He swiped over the screen, and the display of Astur was replaced with the model of a ship. To Lenah, it looked like a modified version of the famous CPL cruiser. A black thorn as tall as the whole three-deck ship stuck out its front, glimmering in multitude shades of black and silver.

  “That’s a laser bundler,” Buntus explained. “Imagine laser fire, bundled a thousand-fold. It will char anything that even thinks about coming close.”

  “Impressive,” Corinna said. “And how many of those do you have? Last time I checked, the bundling technology was in its infancy.”

  “CPL Corp has been spearheading the development for years,” Buntus answered, but he sounded gruff. “We are contributing five equipped ships to the war effort.”

  “Five against fifty-five thousand?” Corinna didn’t sound impressed. Lenah looked back at the screen. Five were a lot better than zero. But could they make a difference against so many?

  “An early test showed that one bundler eats through eight thousand in four minutes, assuming the enemy sticks as close together as they have in the past. All we need to do is last an additional minute and a half. A little more, should we lose a bundler or see different enemy distributions.”

  “A lot can happen in five and a half minutes.”

  “If I missed that Cheung Corp has something as valuable to contribute, do let me know, Miss Cheung,” Commander Buntus said. “As far as I know, CPL Corp is the only corporation able to provide this level of weaponry.”

  Corinna smiled. “That’s not at all what I meant to say, Commander Buntus. I’m merely worried.”

  Thuat Jones chuckled silently.

  “What is the plan then?” Lenah asked.

  Buntus’s hard gaze landed on her. He waved a commanding hand toward Thuat Jones, whose face quickly returned to a serious expression. “To further relief pressure on the bundlers, we’ll let them get close to the planet to make use of the planetary defense system of Juan’s World. It’s state-of-the-art.”

  “Why?” Corinna’s forehead furrowed. “This is quasi no man’s land.” She looked at Thuat Jones. “No offense.”

  He didn’t look offended. His eyes sparkled again. “None taken.” Jones turned toward Buntus, who shrugged. “Juan’s World is getting special treatment,” Jones continued. “It’s being prepared as a redundancy for UPL Station.”

  “Ah.” Corinna nodded in understanding. “And of what does this special treatment consist?”

  “We have two mobile force field units, each with a coverage of eight thousand square kilometers, there are automated gunning systems targeting anything that’s not authorized, and we use weather control in the high stratosphere for anyone who still gets too close.”

  “The plan is as follows,” Buntus’s loud voice pronounced. He pinched the bridge of his straight nose. “The army of united UPL forces will await the Muha Dara swarm from the other side of the planet until they are close enough to be targeted by the planet systems. Then we’ll rapidly close in on them, using warp bubbles. We’ll encircle them; even with their number, they won’t stand a chance.”

  “What if the Cava Dara realize what you’re doing?” Corinna asked. “What if they angle toward the planet from another direction?”

  “Or don’t go to the planet at all?” Lenah interjected, seeing her chance. So far, no one had even mentioned the comm she’d sent out days ago.

  “Nonsense, where else would they go?” Buntus roared. “If I had time to listen to your wild fantasies, I’d have asked for more already. Now, let’s focus on what’s important. This is the only human outpost far and wide, where else would they go?” He eyed Lenah coldly. “And don’t tell me they are going into bloody Saltoc.”

  Lenah gathered her confidence, watching a vein tick on his forehead. She felt as angry as he looked. “There are humans inside of Saltoc. Mind mages,” she said, glad that her voice sounded cool. “That’s where they are going.”

  “Excuse me, Miss Callo?” Buntus stood up, his full over six feet tall frame towering over her.

  Lenah nodded, ignoring his large presence as well as she could and resisting the urge to use her powers. “Did you see the research material I sent?”

  Buntus barked out a laugh, then turned toward Thuat Jones. “You hear that, Jones? And how am I supposed to work here if everyone is this demented?”

  But Thuat Jones was looking at Lenah. After several long seconds had ticked by, he asked, “What is this theory of yours?”

  “It’s nothing,” Buntus said. “A USO scholar trying to leave his mark on the war.” He sat down again. “I will hear no more of it.”

  Thuat nodded but kept looking at Lenah.

  Buntus pointed between her and Corinna. “You two—”

  “Wait a moment.” Corinna held up her hand, palm facing Commander Buntus. “That’s it? Miss Callo wouldn’t make this statement without a reason. You—”

  “Bloody asteroid, I don’t have time to waste. And you,” he pointed at Lenah again, “you can leave your wild ideas with one of my security officers outside.” Buntus sat down. “Now, let’s get to the point of why I’m sharing all this information with you. You’re the mind mages. I’m counting on you to be the backup to my laser bundlers.”

  “The backup?” Corinna’s voice hitched. “You better be joking.” She leaned back in her chair, giving Commander Buntus a cold stare that rivaled his own.

  “Miss Cheung,” Buntus said through clenched teeth. “There’s no need to endanger two family members only to kill a few more Muha Dara. My weapons can handle it.” He smacked his fist on the table as Corinna made to protest. “You can be here on the King Arthur with me, and we’ll fly you in should the need arise.”

  “With all due respect, you can’t be serious,” Corinna said and raised her eyebrows towards Lenah. “I’ve recently stated from my experience with the Muha Dara that they are more powerful than they look. They know no fear, hatches will not keep them out, they are stronger than any being their size and physique should be, and we know virtually nothing about them.”

  Buntus made to protest, but Corinna stood up, leaned against the table and was now towering over everyone. She pointed a finger at him.

  Lenah thought she was deliberately imitating his behavior and bit back a smile. No one could say Corinna Cheung didn’t have guts.

  “I was there. Arrogant, thinking that my ships could handle it alone. After all, what are a few thousand t
iny stone creatures?” Corinna shook her fist. “But they came for us like a force no one has ever seen. And the only thing that truly helped was our mind magic.”

  “Impressive,” Buntus said. “But we’re here with the full force of the UPL, not some rural defense from your company.”

  “It doesn’t matter!” Corinna roared. Say something, her eyes seemed to say to Lenah.

  Lenah steeled herself. She’d walked into this meeting feeling relieved to give the responsibility to someone else. Someone who would be able to make the right decisions, a real leader. Buntus certainly thought of himself as a great leader, but after meeting him, she couldn’t help but disagree. And dislike him. But was she, who could barely keep a crew of five alive, the right person to judge that? “I agree with Miss Cheung that we should be in the foreground of the battle. We can even use our own ships.”

  Buntus’s eyes found hers. “You think that ships are the issue here? Didn’t I make it clear that it’s technology that will win this battle not some magic no one had heard of until a week ago?”

  None of them answered. The silence rang loudly inside the small meeting room, and all Lenah could hear was the boiling blood running inside her veins.

  “I will tell you something now,” Buntus continued. “I’m here because I was chosen to represent this war effort, and because I am trusted from the highest UPL representatives. You, Miss Cheung, were chosen to run a provincial battle and managed to lose dozens of ships. I plan not to repeat your mistakes. This is war, and I’m in command. You will follow my instructions as if your mothers’ lives depended on them. Or you can walk away, but don’t think that it will do Cheung Corp or Starwide Research any good.”

  No one moved. Lenah didn’t know what to say or how to approach the situation. Was there some way to get close to the battle anyway? Far away from the arrogant authority of Commander Buntus?

  Buntus nodded. “Good. Tomorrow, I want you both on my bridge at eleven sharp. This meeting is over.” He stood abruptly and turned to leave. “Jones, in my private office. Now.”

  The door shut behind him as he left.

  Corinna let out a deep breath. Thuat Jones rose from his seat, giving them an almost pitiful look. When he left the room, Lieutenant Cornell appeared in the doorway. “I’m escorting you outside.”

  3 Morning of the Battle

  Bathed in sweat and feeling like she’d barely closed her eyes, Lenah awoke the next morning to loud banging from the engine room.

  “Ugh, Uz. Too early.” She staggered out of bed to make her way to the Star Rambler’s single lav unit. The dry shower helped to get the sweat off, but not the tiredness sitting deep inside Lenah’s bones or in getting rid of the feeling of dread that was wedged in her guts. And here she thought fighting under someone else’s command would help relax her. Thanks to Martius Buntus, that idea had evaporated like a star collapsing on itself. She had thought giving away her decision-making power would ease her tension. After all, her choices had crash-landed them on New Earth, gotten them evicted, and caused an attack by people from Doctor Lund’s order. She’d treated Cassius so badly he’d taken off by himself with the very Cassidians who were sent to kill Lenah and Corinna. No, it was a good thing this time, she wasn’t commanding anyone. Was relying on technology to combat ancient evil any better?

  Loud voices drifted over from the common room, and Lenah changed her course.

  “I’m telling you; they’ve got to be on Saltoc I!” Doctor Lund said.

  Lenah walked into the room to inspect the chaos, wondering how anyone could find anything within the messy pile of holobooks, notes in G-Standard, and ancient Syrr.

  “Nonsense, young Lund. Saltoc I’s atmosphere is barely breathable; it is too hot, and there’s nothing there that qualifies as nutrition for your species.” Zyrakath looked back down over his notes.

  “You’re trying to locate the Strikers?” Lenah wished they were beyond the stage of guessing. Tangible information might be the only thing to sway Martius Buntus’s mind. But if no one knew anything about Saltoc, why would her crew be the first one to discover new information?

  Doctor Lund ran a hand through his already messy hair, and Zyrakath puffed up his chest and hovered higher. “Yes. We are currently debating which planet in the Saltoc sector could accommodate human life,” the drone said.

  Lenah nodded. “We can’t search all nine of them. But aren’t they all livable? I thought they were terraformed.”

  Doctor Lund opened his mouth, but it was once again Zyrakath who spoke. “They are terraformed for Bartoc and species who can survive in very different environments than humans. They don’t need as much oxygen, for instance. Several of the planets of Saltoc were made to fit only the Bartoc and their lesser races.”

  “That’s good though, right?” Lenah said. “We know we won’t have to search there.”

  “There are only three candidates.” Doctor Lund pulled out a holobook showing telescopic images of planet surfaces. “There’s Saltoc I, Bakks, and Kalhhok.” He pointed.

  Lenah followed his outstretched hand but couldn’t interpret the images or statistics. “No luck finding insider sources?”

  Doctor Lund shook his head. “The area is strikingly isolated. There is no data, either Bartoc or human-made.”

  “How is that even possible?” Lenah asked. “We left Old Earth fifteen centuries ago and became a race that’s aware of their neighbors. The Syrr and the Cassidians have been around even longer.”

  Zyrakath was silent. Doctor Lund shrugged. “There seems to be something obstructing even the most basic information gathering.”

  The door opened.

  “I heard they have defenses completely shutting them in,” Martello Lombardi said, stepping through the hatch with Cassius behind him. “Like an invisible curtain.”

  “A curtain?” Lenah turned to him. The old man served himself and his grandson a cup of coffee, then sat down on the only chair that wasn’t covered in notes.

  Martello took a sip of his drink. “I’ve learned my lesson.” He grimaced. “Guess I’m telling this tale after all.” He eyed Lenah, and she sensed the mere thought pained him. Martello leaned back in the chair and adjusted his jacket, making a show of settling in. Finally, he cleared his throat.

  “My only time that I fought against a Bartoc was in this area. Back when it was a truly remote place. The terraforming had barely started.”

  Lenah tried to calculate. That must have been decades ago.

  “I was a youth,” Martello continued, “and had just taken over the ship from my father. One of the older crew members convinced me that it would be a good idea to rob a Bartoc smuggler shuttle. You know, make a big splash, get people to shiver in fear at the mere mention of the name Martello Lombardi.”

  Cassius, who had been watching his grandfather, quickly looked at Lenah. Judging her reaction to hearing about his grandfather’s criminal past? She had to admit she’d imagined Martello making a living off other criminals or rich family members, not being feared all over the galaxy.

  “We went all the way to the border, right next to the forbidden area.” He snorted. “They say you get too close, and it swallows ships.” Martello took a sip of coffee. “I don’t know about that.” He took another big gulp. “Good thing I have coffee to tell this tale. Coffee makes everything better.”

  Cassius frowned and Lenah thought he might not even know this story.

  “I don’t know about the swallowing part, but it certainly spits out ships,” Martello said. “One moment, our radar was all clear, then the next, we’re being boarded by a Bartoc smuggler ship. They can crawl up walls, did you know?

  “Six of them came onto our ship with a crew of twenty-one. Somehow, all our shots went wild. Into our cargo—we had Ilacidae eggs, delicate things, they are—or into our hull.” He shook his head, staring into his cup. “I had this enormous laser gun; it damaged my hull in seconds. Then they fell on us. From the ceiling, from behind, from everywhere. It was only six of the
m, but we were lethargic, and no one moved. They didn’t kill all of us, just half. I got the distinct impression that we were being made an example of. To tell the tale.” He pursed his lips in a grimace. “I never told anyone and I never tried to steal from a Bartoc ever again.”

  “You were lethargic?” There was gentleness in Zyrakath’s question. “What was the reason?”

  Martello shook his head. “Some drugs, something leaking out of that sector or off their ugly bodies. I never found out.”

  Zyr frowned, and Lenah wasn’t satisfied with that answer either.

  “Well, I hope that’s what happens to any Muha Dara trying to fight a Bartoc,” Cassius said.

  Lenah nodded. “At least that would give us a chance to win this battle.”

  “I thought CPL Corp had all those amazing laser bundlers.” Cassius looked up at her. Their gazes met, and awareness shot through Lenah. She remembered Persia’s recommendation to talk to him.

  Then he looked away, leaving Lenah feeling strangely empty.

  “Sure.” She nodded, trying to downplay her emotions. “But they only have five of them.”

  In way of answering, the comm unit started beeping in the Star Rambler’s cockpit.

  4 Akimi’s Tale

  Lenah landed the Star Rambler softly on the dusty surface of Juan’s World’s main starport. It was called a starport, but that fancy name was all the facility offered. This was just a flat field in the desert.

  “Wow, I didn’t know what to expect. I’ve never been on a terraformed world,” Persia said, staring ahead into the desert.

  Lenah raised an eyebrow at her friend.

  “I mean, this place had nothing, not even an atmosphere, a few years ago. Now, we can just step out there and breathe. And we get to see this before…well, before anything happens to it…” Persia trailed off.

  “We have to trust UPL to get it right,” Lenah said slowly.

  Persia snorted. “Really, Lenah? You and I both know you don’t mean that. They got it wrong on Astur, and they are on their way to getting it wrong again. With you and Corinna in the middle of it.”