Chroniech! (46 page)

As if reading his thoughts, Trel'mara continued, "The circulating currents generated from the effect of the terra-gauss field burn out control circuits, computers, sensors, and any other electronic components and devices within the ship. The crew are mostly unharmed because the currents tend to stay within the confines of the ship's structure. The weapon renders a ship useless without much risk of causing the crew any harm."

"Incredible," Doug finally said. "Hey! Look!"

Ken turned his attention to the main tactical display and was surprised to see that all of the Chroniech ships were leaving. The three planetary assault ships, of course, were now dead in space and drifting. "I'll be damned!" Scarboro exclaimed. "Show them a little of what you can do and they turn tail and run."

"They'll be back," Stricklen said. "And it won't be with a hundred, two hundred, or even a thousand ships. From what I've seen of the Chroniech and their reaction to the Kyrra I think they'll be back with every ship that they can spare."

"Captain Stricklen!" the voice of Admiral Singth blared over the speaker. "On behalf of the Alliance and especially Almaranus, I want to thank both you and your Kyrra friends. I have received word from the Almaranus civilian government that they want to throw a welcoming party for as many Kyrra as would like to join. I don't think they realize that an entire planetary population might be attending. I would, however, like to invite you and the Kyrra leaders to the surface so they can be officially thanked."

"The thought is appreciated," Stricklen replied. "But, we have some other business to attend to. This battle is not over yet. I would like permission for the Dragon and her crew to remain behind. I think most of my crew would like to contact their families."

"Understood. Permission is granted. Your crew may land at the main starport at any time. Before you go, there is someone in my office who insists on speaking with you."

The Admiral stepped away from the video pickup and Sorbith moved into view. "Congratulations captain! Your mission was far more successful than anticipated. I take it you have returned Falnath in one piece?"

Ken chuckled a bit before answering. "Oh yes. You might have a hard time getting her to leave though. She has been in the Rouldian equivalent of heaven since we encountered the Kyrra. She spends her every waking hour wandering around their research labs or digging through the Kyrra information network. Frankly, I'm surprised they have not thrown her out."

"Glad to hear it. What's this other business you're talking about?"

"We may have chased the Chroniech away from Almaranus, but the rest of the Alliance is still in jeopardy. The Kyrra cannot be bouncing from system to system chasing Chroniech ships away only to have them come back as soon as they leave. Something must be done to send the Chroniech back to their space and keep them there. I intend on going to one of the Chroniech homeworlds and threatening to destroy the entire planet unless they stop their attacks on the Alliance and recall their ships."

"Sounds risky. I can't imagine the Chroniech allowing you to approach any of their capital worlds without a challenge. Just how do the Kyrra expect to keep the Chroniech contained?"

"I have not the foggiest idea," Ken replied shrugging his shoulders. "The Kyrra have been tight-lipped about that. Don't worry about us. This ship is about as close to indestructible as can get. The Chroniech are about to receive a lesson in extreme power. As soon as the Dragon is clear we will be leaving."

While Ken had been talking to the Admiral, Trel'mara had been speaking to the Kyrra council. Both conversations ended at about the same time.

Trel'mara turned to Ken and said, "The council has requested that all Alliance personnel leave the worldship. A general recall of your ship's compliment has been put out."

"That's exactly what I was about to do. I think our best approach to get the Chroniech out of Alliance space is to take the battle to their homeworlds. Threatening to destroy all life on one of their major planets should convince them to recall all of their ships."

"Your idea," Trel'mara replied, "is one that might be expected from any other race. It is not, however, an idea that we Kyrra would entertain nor act upon. The council has determined that there is another solution."

Ken then noticed the look on Trel'mara's face. "You're not telling me I have to leave also, are you?"

The alien placed a hand on Ken's right shoulder and replied, "Yes. I do not know what sort of solution the council has come up with but I have been told to ask you to leave. You have been a good friend Ken Stricklen. I will miss you."

Ken was confused. "This is not a final goodbye, Trel'mara. I don't know what the council plans on doing after we leave but I do know that you will be back. Talk to them, ask them to let me stay on the worldship."

"I am sorry, but the council's decision is final. All Alliance personnel, including yourself, must leave immediately. They did, however, ask me to convey a message to you."

"And that is?"

"They have based their plan partially on something you mentioned in the statement you recorded to our people before they voted to come to your aid."

"Me? What did I say?"

"I do not know," Trel'mara replied. "I must ask you to now leave."

Stricklen was about to offer further arguments but after seeing the look in his friend's eyes decided against it. Trel'mara was having a difficult time saying goodbye and he did not want to make it any worse.

Reaching out and placing his right hand on Trel'mara's shoulder, Ken said, "All right. Just promise me that you will look me up when you get back."

"If I am able, I will do so," Trel'mara replied.

Ken took one last look around the control room, instructed Doug to follow, spun around on his heel, and left. A transport was waiting for him outside the control center. Twenty minutes later, he was once again seated in his familiar command chair aboard the Komodo Dragon. As soon as the ship was ready, the immense docking hatch opened and the heavy-cruiser once again found itself floating in its natural element.

"Good Lord, look at the size of that thing!" Doug remarked as the ship accelerated away from the Kyrra worldship.

"Helm," Stricklen ordered. "Set course for Almaranus, maximum speed." He then punched up a tactical display just in time to see the worldship as it engaged its stardrive and blasted toward Chroniech space. A sense of loss swept over Ken as he watched the worldship until it finally disappeared off his screen.

"What do you think they are going to do?" Doug asked.

"I have no idea," Ken replied. "But I have this awful feeling that we will never see them again."

"I wouldn't bet on that," Doug replied as he turned and walked off the bridge.

26 - Retirement

The leader's clawed fist slammed into the table top with an earth-shattering crash. The other members of the council growled in agreement of their leader's anger. "Three planetary assault platforms destroyed with one shot to each!" he raged.

"These Kyrra are indeed the ones spoken of in our legends. If the legends predict the behavior of the Kyrra accurately then they will come here next to destroy us. The legends tell of how the Kyrra attacked and nearly destroyed the ancients. Despite the incredible power of their weapons, the ancients massed all their strength and overcame them. I am ordering the immediate recall of all ships. While our forces gather, we will develop an attack plan to stop the Kyrra."

"Why did they not destroy the Alliance fleet when they had a chance?" a question came from the table.

Another answered back, "They destroyed our planetary assault platforms as a show of force to the Alliance to keep them in line. It is obvious that the Kyrra have recognized us as the stronger force to be reckoned with which is why that are on their way here. The Alliance has been under their control the whole time."

"We defeated them once before and we will do so again," the leader regained control of the meeting. "We will not leave this room until a plan has been finalized."

* * * * *

The crew of the Komodo Dragon were welcomed to Almaranus by as much celebration as could be achieved in a domed city. The atmosphere of the planet was inhospitable to life and thus all cities and structures were either domed or air-tight. Stricklen attended several banquets before he finally, but politely, told the officials that he had had enough. Throughout all this, Stricklen kept in touch with the strategic situation. Amazingly, all Chroniech ships had withdrawn from Alliance space. The damage they left behind was considerable.

Eleven planets, two of them heavily populated, had been laid to waste. Nearly three thousand Alliance ships had been destroyed. The total loss of life was still being compiled but so far the number had risen beyond 115 million. It was believed that only twelve hundred or so Chroniech ships had been destroyed. The Alliance had been hit hard and it would take years before it fully recovered.

The Kyrra had refused to respond to any attempts at communication. Stricklen had no idea what they were up to and he could not keep them out of his mind. Several times, he had sent personal messages toward the worldship but had never received a reply. By now, the Kyrra were outside the communications range of even the Hess provided transmitters.

After a week of celebrations, banquets, and speeches, Tasha convinced Ken that they needed to take some time to themselves. Ken applied for and received a months leave. Being Tasha's superior office, Ken also approved her leave request.

A prominent local businessman heard of their plans to take a vacation and, in appreciation for ridding the Alliance of the Chroniech, allowed them to use one of the company's small superluminal Leer's. Ken tried to refuse but in the end gave in. At long last Tasha and Ken had some time to themselves. Their private ship spent most of the three day trip on autopilot.

Their first stop was a Tholtaran world fifteen light years from Almaranus known by Humans as Oceanus. The planet consisted of thousands of small islands dotted around the planet's equatorial region. The vast majority of the world was covered with water.

Tasha had suggested the location. She had done so for a reason. After their second night on the planet she asked, "So what do you think of Tholtarans now?"

Ken had not forgotten her suggestion to spend time on a non-military Tholtaran world. He had found the Tholtaran people to be proud, honorable, and decent. He was actually starting to like them. He told her so which gave Tasha an inner joy of a job well done.

"Tell me," Tasha whispered into Ken's ear as they lay together in a hammock. "Have you decided if you're going to put in your resignation?"

The two lover's had not discussed their future since beginning their vacation. They had been too involved in enjoying and exploring each other. Ken looked up at the clear star-studded sky and took in a deep breath. He knew this question had been on Tasha's mind for some time.

He adjusted his shoulder a bit then replied, "I have been in the military since I was eighteen. My father and my father's father were all in the military. It's in my blood. Do you think I would be happy being retired?"

Tasha reached down and touched him where only a wife could and said, "I think I could keep you happy!" Relaxing her hand she continued, "Seriously, I don't know. The decision is yours to make, not mine. Whatever you decide though, I want to be able to see you more often than once a year. We will either stay in the military together and remain assigned to the same command or you will have to think about retiring. You did mention your father's sailboat back on Earth."

"Yes I did, and the more I think about it, the better retirement sounds."

"How far is Earth from here?" she asked.

"I believe it's just over seventy light years. We could make the trip in under two weeks — why?"

"I have a deal to make with you. Talk to your superior and ask for a leave of absence. Take me to Earth and show me this boat you keep talking about. After two weeks you can decide if you want to retire or not. I will respect whatever decision you make."

Ken thought about it for a moment. He then rolled out of the hammock and took a drink from his rum which had been patiently waiting for him on the table. He looked at his lovely wife and said, "I'll call the admiral in the morning — if he approves I'll tell Mr. Taylor that we will be keeping his ship a little bit longer than originally anticipated."

Tasha rolled out of the hammock and embraced her husband. "Great! Let's celebrate," she said in a voice Ken had grown to love.

"Again? You're going to wear me out before my time," he said jokingly.

"Maybe," she said, leading him into the cottage. "But at least we will have fun doing it."

In the age of advanced communications, nobody was more than a phone-call away. Ken, however, was still surprised to find a message waiting for him in the morning. Tasha was still sleeping so Ken decided to go ahead and play it without her. It was from Admiral Singth.

"Sorry to bother you on your honeymoon captain, but a situation has developed which has forced us to issue a recall of all available military personnel. I cannot give specifics over an unsecured channel so you will have to be in the dark until you arrive.”

"I have dispatched the Komodo Dragon to your location to pick you up. She was in the area and is the fastest ship in the fleet. The Dragon should be arriving at your location by 0800 local time. Someone else will be responsible for piloting your private ship back to its owner. Sector command out."

Stricklen uttered an explicative and glanced at the clock. It was already 0740. Cursing under his breath he turned around and almost collided with Tasha. The look in her eyes told him that she had overheard the message. "What does he mean by — a situation?" she asked.

"I have no idea," Ken replied. "But, it must be bad if they are issuing a recall. The Dragon will be here soon, we had better get packed."

Ken and Tasha were enjoying an after-breakfast cup of coffee when a knock sounded at the cottage door. The couple looked at each other and Ken yelled out, "Come in!"