Warrior Chronicles 3: Warrior's Realm (15 page)

“She was a secondary of our group on Government World. Her identification is verified.”

“What happened to her primary?” Cupla asked.

“According to Heroc, General Addison, who is the human military leader, vivisected him as an example to the others. When the rest of the team assigned to Government World was taken into custody, the other secondary was also killed. Many tertiaries have been killed as well. Heroc does not know the location of two tertiaries originally taken, but they are probably dead. General Addison has no respect for life.”

“Where is the human homeworld? It must be destroyed.”

“That is not possible for several reasons, Primary. First, we do not know its location. Also the humans are the manufacturers of the resonators. Without crystal, we cannot overtake a planet without the use of ground forces.”

“Weela, do you have any good news for me?”

“The attack by the humans, who are known as the Ares Federation, was carried out by three ships. In the eighth attack, one of the ships was damaged by chance.”

“By chance?”

“The last signal received from that world indicated a defensive weapon deflected a comet toward the transition point of the ship. The Ares Federation ship was damaged beyond repair by impact with the comet. Unfortunately, when the ship was able to move under its own power, it crashed into the planet. The other two ships finished the attacks.”

“The ship was purposefully ordered to crash into the planet? What about its crew? Did they sacrifice them?”

“It would seem so, Primary. The tachyon nets were disabled at the beginning of the attack, but visual sensors did not detect other vessels, or a rescue attempt by the other ships involved in the attack.”

“If they are willing to die in such a way, they will be a formidable enemy.”

“Yes, Primary. What message do you wish to relay through Heroc?”

“You are certain she is not compromised?”

“Yes, Primary.”

“Very well, I will draft a message and send it to you, Weela. Thank you.”

“Primary, there is one other thing,” Weela said.

“What is it, Weela?”

“Primary Cupla, you are now to be the Supreme. Queens will expect you soon.”

“I had forgotten. Husks! My brood-queen would never have suspected she would lay a Supreme. How many queens are on planet?”

“Seven, sir.”

“Seven. How long do I have to assert, Weela?”

“You have until dawn, Primary.”

“Let us hope the Ares Federation will destroy our planet before then, Weela. Seven queens in one night? Not since Supreme Maal has that been done,” Cupla said. The two males chuckled, but the truth of Cupla’s jest was tangible between them.

Government World

“How long will it be until you receive an answer, Heroc?”

“I do not know, General. Depending on the day cycle of whatever planet is now
Homeworld
, it could be up to eighteen of your hours.”

“Explain that, please,” Cort asked.

“When our supreme leader is replaced, the next Supreme must assert his position to the queens of that planet. After mating with all the planet’s queens, he assumes the role. Only then can he act on behalf of the whole. I do not know where our homeworld is now, so I cannot speculate on the time of assertion.”

Turning to Pence, Cort said, “Jeff, get the rest of them cleaned up and in cells. See to their needs, please.”

“Yes, sir.” Turning to Heroc, Pence asked, “Can I have anything brought to you, ma’am?”

Heroc was surprised by the question. In fact, by the entire exchange. “I would like some sweet-water please.”

“Jeff, we will be in the office. Will you bring me some coffee as well? I wouldn’t mind some carbs, either.”

“Yes, sir. Would donuts do?”

“Gods, yes. How the hell do you know about donuts?”

“Your recipes are famous, sir.”

As Pence left the room, Heroc spoke. “General, you confuse me. You have so little regard for life, yet you are courteous to a fault.”

“I have the utmost regard for life, Heroc. But I am warrior. I have no regard for my enemies. That does not mean I am not civilized.”

“Perhaps.”

“Heroc, why doesn’t your species simply convert uninhabited planets, instead attacking other species?”

“We colonize whatever planets are most suitable for our species. If a planet is occupied by a lower order, we cleanse it.”

“Is that what we are? Lower orders?”

“Yes, General. Even Blatterians are of a lower order to us. They do not have the resistance to radiation we have developed.”

“I see.”

A corporal arrived with sweet-water, coffee, and donuts. After setting the tray on a side table, he left the room, but took position as a sentry outside the door.

Cort spoke again, once the door was closed. “It’s a shame your people feel that way. I’m going to have to wipe you from existence unless you agree to my terms.”

“You act as if we have no say in the matter, General.”

“You do not, Heroc. Your Supreme will either agree to my terms or I will make your species extinct.”

Heroc sipped her sweet-water and regarded the human before her.
He is so very confident. It is good there are not more like him.
“General, are you so sure that there are none who can stand against you?”

“Many stand against me, Heroc. I used to hope for one who could prevail.” Cort bit into the donut and washed the warm bread down with coffee before he added, “Heroc, I have come to realize that it is not my time to fall.”

“Perhaps it will be soon, General.”

It was two hours before Heroc put her water down to respond to the activated transmitter. Cort quickly realized the drawn out conversation was coded. When she put the device down, Heroc said, “I am told to decline your offer. My species agrees to stop expanding, but we will not give up the territory we have gained.”

“That is not acceptable, Heroc. You cannot keep territory taken from Collaborative species.”

“May I speak bluntly, General?” Heroc did not wait for a reply before she said, “In negotiations, you must give an opponent a way to save pride, both to you, and to their own species.”

“I will only give you an opportunity to exist, Heroc. Your species deserves no more.” Cort picked up the transmitter before he stood and walked to the door. Turning back, he said, “You will be treated well. I will see you again if I need more messages sent.”

“General, shouldn’t I transmit your answer?”

“No. They will know soon enough.”

--

After seeing to the new prisoners, Jeff Pence was returning to his quarters when he ran into Speral. The alabaster skinned female was leaving Lap’s offices and greeted him happily.

“Jeff Pence, how are you?”

“I’m, well, I’m fine, Speral.”
I’m not fine. And I do not know what is wrong.

“Jeff Pence, why are humans so deceptive?”

“What do you mean?” They had fallen into a casual walk, and Jeff didn’t even notice when they passed his quarters. The conversation distracted him, and he welcomed it.

“Jeff Pence, clearly you are upset. Yet you tell me you are fine. That is deceptive.”

“Yes, I suppose it is.” Not for the first time around Speral, Jeff had to battle the urge to stare at her. It wasn’t just her nudity, or the poison-laden spines that lay flaccid down the length of her back. In fact, while he did think of her erotically, he often found himself staring at her face.
What is wrong with me? A beautiful alien is nude right next to me, and I stare into her eyes rather than at her body. Gods! But she is beautiful.
“I do not normally share my woes, Speral.”

“Jeff Pence, it is not just you. I have noticed this trait in other humans, as well,” Speral said. “What is troubling you?”

Jeff sighed audibly and said, “Please don’t say anything to General Addison, Speral.”
I cannot believe I am about to spill my guts to you, little one.

“Jeff Pence, I will not discuss what you say with Cortland Addison.”

“Thank you. I’m not sure that I am cut out to be a warrior. I mean, I can kill. And I would do so if necessary, but I would hope that it would be only defensively.”

“Jeff Pence, being a member of the Ares Federation makes that position tenuous, does it not?”

“Very much so, Speral. The General relies on me, and I am not sure that I can be who he needs me to be.”

“Jeff Pence, not all members of your federation are fighters. Are there other positions you would be suited to.”

“Perhaps.”

“Jeff Pence, you must talk to the General then. I believe he would rather have you succeed in a support capacity than fail in a primary one.”

Another sigh.
You make it sound so simple.

--

“Begin your attacks again, JJ. Target only those planets that have no representative species remaining. Leave the ones we want for bases alone, too.”

“Yes, General. Admiral Book has two more Remington class ships coming on line in the next week. They were mothballed after the Solitude conference. When we lost the Ithaca, I ordered him to make them a priority. We will also have two more
Peacemakers
by then.”

“How many Marines do I have?”

“The first two-thousand boots will be ready for deployment in three more weeks. And they will be very green, sir.”

“According to Heroc, they have over a trillion people.”

“We’re slightly outnumbered then, General.”

“I prefer to look at it as we have a target-rich environment, Admiral.”

Solitude

Cort was working with the wolves when Kimberly walked up, iced tea and a basket in hand. Bane was trying to tear Cort’s armor covered neck, while Coke and Zandra were pulling at his equally protected groin and leg. Kimberly yelled, “Drop!” Zandra and Coke immediately released Cort. Only Bane hesitated. It took a repeat of the command from Kim to cause the big animal to let go. “He does not like letting go,” she said.

“He’s darker than the other wolves. I think he knows he is unique. He’s like me in that sense.” Cort called the big animal over and stroked its neck, while Kim laid out their lunch. “How was your morning?” he asked.

“Good. The training grounds are finished now. And JJ commed me this morning. I have three ships available to me for the next two weeks to bring in staff and gear. Recruits begin arriving in three. You won’t have the current class for an extra two weeks, because they are facilitating the move. For the time being, JJ is going to keep sending recruits through Mars, also.”

“That’s smart. We are going to be severely undermanned for at least another year. What about the wolfpacks?”

“Five weeks for them to start training. They won’t transfer here until they are screened for compatibility.”