Inherited War 3: Retaliation (42 page)

Hal remained quiet and let split concentrate as he maneuvered through the narrow and twisty passageway. Split’s craft was much smaller than the one Thalo had flown through and had a much easier time of it.

They broke through the interior opening of the cave and into the atmosphere of the planet. Split hadn’t been here in a long time. They had forgotten that the interior side of the shell was crystal clear while the outside was opaque. The shell magnified and reflected the light from the distant sun, so the whole planet was a uniform temperature of about seventy degrees. There was no real night on this world, just a period of low light on the backside of the planet. Unlike Thalo, Split knew where the Kin city was and headed straight for it. They regained his composure and focused back on the reason they were here.

They flew low over the city as they headed for a large clearing in the middle of the city. They knew it was their main meeting area and hoped more than a few Kin would already be there. If not, their landing there should draw their attention. They was wrong, sort of.

There weren’t just a few Kin there already; they were all there plus one non-Kin. That would be the former criminal who had assumed his dead brother’s identity, Vinco. He had been here before and because he had violated his oath to not show anyone how to get past the shell, they had forced him to stay behind. It wasn’t a bad punishment, all things considered. The planet was a paradise, the inhabitants were intelligent and beautiful, and he also had a daughter here. The only drawback to their forced evolution by ancient humans was the inability to breed within their species. They needed males from other species to create offspring with their females. On the plus side, they lived forever if they didn’t die by accident or murder. They didn’t age, get sick, or any of the other maladies of mere mortals, but their population also never grew above ten thousand. It could dip below but if it did, they held a lottery to see who would go get a specimen and who would get to be the mother.

They had been doing it this way for thousands of years and, besides Split, were the only other beings who remembered the ancient pure humans. They had cleared a space in the middle of their gathering area just big enough for them to land. They ringed the cleared space silently and waited. Wings folded behind their backs and hands clasped in front of them. They all wore the shining clothes made from the glowing silk of a native insect, and all were perfection to be held. Luckily, Split had been around the block, as they say, and wasn’t too impressed by the spectacle before them. They landed carefully and popped the hatch on the cockpit.

“Something’s off here,” Hal warned. “I think they knew we were coming.”

“Really? How could you tell?” Split said as they vaulted over the edge of the cockpit and landed nimbly on the soft ground. They looked around, the clearing was silent and all eyes were turned to him.

“Have we interrupted something?” Split finally asked to break the silence. A female Kin walked forward and offered Split a short bow.

“I remember you. You were the two who became one,” she said.

“Yes, we were the chosen agents of the humans and joined with my bond mate.”

“By which name shall we call you?” she asked.

“We go by Split now.”

“Be welcome Split. I am Cassiel and we have been waiting for you,” she said.

“How is that possible? We only just found out we needed to come here?” Hal said out of one of his external speakers. Split waved the AI to silence.

“Because when we were set free by the last of the humans, we were also given a choice. We were told that one day humanity would return and on that day, they would ask for our help in the final battle against the great enemy. If we refused to help, we would be left alone and suffer whatever fate befell the galaxy at the end of the war. If the Esii won, we would be eradicated, and if the humans won, hopefully left alone. Our other option was to aid with the final war. If we chose to help, then we would see the continuation of our people but see the destruction of our world.” She frowned slightly when she finished.

“I don’t understand. Why will your world be destroyed?” Hal asked in amazement.

“You are here to mine the material that is embedded in our protective shell, are you not?” Cassiel asked.

“Yes, we are. We need it to clear a path to the Nixa homeworld,” Split replied.

“Once, long ago, the creators,” Split was surprised they still referred to the Pures that way, “attempted to mine out the same substance. They managed to get a small amount before the area around the mining site collapsed down onto the planet.”

“The hole we came through,” Split whispered quietly, though not quiet enough.

“The very same. You require larger amounts, no?” she asked.

“Tons,” he said sadly.

“So,” she held her arms out to encompass all of her people, “we require a favor. Removal from this world before it dies.” A heavy weight sunk on Split’s heart. One of the most beautiful jewels in the galaxy, and it would have to be destroyed. They hung their head slightly as they contemplated the world’s fate.

“Do not be sad. Long have we debated our course in this life, and we are at peace with our decision. For too long we have been separate from the galaxy we reside in, and have held ourselves aloof from its doings. By breaking the shell, you also shatter the bonds of our self imposed prison.” Cassiel spoke softly but with conviction.

“Where will you all go?” Hal asked.

“Most of us have decided to go to where the humans are. In fact, all of us will go there at first, and when the war is over, some plan on travelling the galaxy. I am led to believe that there are many human women who currently have many newborns to care for and they need they help. We are not a race that has many opportunities to raise children and help rebuild societies. We believe if the humans will have us, that we can help them reestablish themselves in the galaxy.”

“Very noble of you, but why? You don’t owe anything to the humans anymore,” Split said. They had spent too much of thier life living in the underbelly of the galaxy not to question someone’s motives.

“For the simplest of reasons. Both of our peoples are new to the galaxy. We can learn to exist among the stars together. We can teach them about their past. Some here accompanied the creators as they explored the galaxy. It will be a symbiotic existence, and one we hope they agree to.”

“Hal, recall the transport fleet. Let’s get the Kin to Home Base. They should all fit in one run,” Split said to the AI.

“Are you sure about this Split? Can you really destroy this world?” Hal asked in a serious tone. Split turned to look back at the ship.

“This isn’t the first world to be destroyed in this war, and it won’t be the last. At least this time no one will die.”

“I sent the order. They should be here in two hours,” Hal said after a moment.

“Our ships are coming. They will load you and take you to the human’s base where the women and children are being housed. Those who want to come with us to Nixa are most welcome to join us when we launch our attack. Do you need to pack?” he asked as an afterthought.

“No,” she replied. “We have what we need here.”

Split grunted a reply and turned to look skyward at the crystal clear dome overhead. Unique in the galaxy and probably in the whole universe.

“Good.” Split turned and walked back to their ship. They slowly lowered themselves to a seated position and leaned back on the forward landing strut. They shut their eyes and fell asleep.

Hal’s estimated time of arrival was accurate, and the fleet of transport ships arrived at the end of the two hour time period. They ignored the heated shouts of the central control station orbiting the world, formed up in a single file line, and proceeded into the cave.

The control station was silent as they watched the ships disappear into the previously thought solid shell. One by one, they entered the shell until none were left. Local space was quiet and so was control. The once popular resort stations of Chrysalis had been all but deserted since the blockade of the Nixa system, and not many ships were around to see the spectacle.

An hour later, the ships had all landed on the outskirts of the city. Perfectly aligned in neat rows and all dropping down boarding ramps. All but one, the last ship in the line, landed front and center right before Split. The side ramps opened and out stomped some angry Nomads. A dozen or so of the short heavily muscled beings were dressed in full battle regalia. The group stomped their way to stand defiantly in front of Split.

“What’s the meaning of this Worlder? We had an agreement.” He snorted in anger.

“We intend to honor that very agreement but first I need our ships. How did you get on those ships?” Split amended his comment.

“Bah, those fragile things opened right up for us,” he replied. “We wanted to make sure those ships of yours didn’t go anywhere.”

“We would not renege on our agreement,” Split responded.

“With the opportunity to leave our imprisonment so close at hand, we were taking no chances. Why are we here? What is this place?” Split spent the next hour telling the Nomad leader what was transpiring while the Kin loaded themselves and the few belongings on board the transports. It was going to be a tight fit, but they could squeeze everyone in and manage to lift off. Split and Hal would stay behind and wait for the ship, towing the excavator slash smelting ship.

“I would like to stay behind, if I could. I am interested to see how this shell of theirs will come down,” the Nomad leader said. His name, Split had finally asked him, was Thiran.

“There is room enough in the scout ship to get you from the surface to the excavator when it arrives.” Split agreed to his request.

The last of the Kin walked toward the two beings and came to a halt in front of them. It was Cassiel, her shoulders were slightly slumped and she wore a look of great sadness.

“May I also stay behind? I have means at my disposal to leave this world when the time comes.” she asked. Split nodded their head in the affirmative and she turned to watch the fleet bearing her people into the future rise majestically into the sky. One by one, they left through the only exit of this world.

“May I ask a question of the lady?” Thiran said.

“My name is Cassiel, and yes you may.”

“I saw the reluctance in your people’s eyes and the sadness that weighs upon you. Why leave? Why give up everything for a few beings left over from an extinct race? Why not keep your world and go on as you have always lived?” Thiran asked.

“I remember your people, Thiran, and I remember your sentence handed down by the Pures. You seek to help them because you want freedom for your people, do you not?” she asked him.

“Yes, but our world is a prison. A dead planet with no means of escape. This will be our reward for following the agreement we made so long ago.”

“As beautiful as this world is, and as abundant the resources that have kept us alive and flourishing for so many years, this place is also a prison.” She pointed to the sky. “When this side of the planet rotates away from the sun, you will be able to see the many space stations, pleasure ships, and other forms of transportation and housing located just past the shield. For centuries the galaxy has come here and looked with wonder at our home, never truly knowing that we lived under the diamond shell. We hid ourselves for fear of being forced to deal with the galaxy as it is not as it was. This planet was our physical prison; our fear was our emotional one. The only way we can truly be free is to allow the prison to fall, forever.” Cassiel was staring off into the distance as she spoke and fell into silence afterword.

“We may be the same, the Kin and the Nomads. Two races altered by humanity, imprisoned and still we cling to the hope of their return and the inevitable victory they will bring. We hope it ends that way, in victory,” Thiran said.

“The only guarantee is that it will end. One way or another,” Split said.

“Cole has beaten the Esii at every turn. He will win this too, I know he will,” Hal added. The small group waited in silence, each contemplating the empty field to their front. So much has to be destroyed, planets, lives even whole species. All so someone can be right, rule, have power. Split spit onto the ground and turned to climb into his craft. They had a message waiting for them on board. The ships were here and moving into position to begin the operation. Split waved over Thiran and helped him board. Cassiel walked back into the city and boarded the one and only ship the Kin ever had to leave the planet. Split led the way out and rendezvoused with
The Missouri,
the only ship in the fleet that could tow the massive excavator ship through warped space.

They ignored all warnings and challenges from the stations around the planet. There was nothing in orbit that could ever hope to challenge the mighty human ship in a straight up battle, so there was no need to respond. Time was tight and they need to get going.