Annals of the Keepers: War 267 (Book 1 in the Gashnee Saga) (14 page)

Data Cell 23

The
Orion’s Rage
jumped into the Montis system near the planet
Geens
. The great ship approached the location given for the conference, drawing ever closer to the world, and the future ahead.

“Send out our arrival notice, Kansec,” Droe said to the bridge officer.

A male officer near the front console responded to her command. “Copy, Lieutenant Commander. Arrival notification has been sent to our Kryth hosts.”

Droe walked down the steps of the command platform and up to the front of the fore-deck. She wanted to see the greeting party awaiting them, since only command cruisers could attend the conference.

The Kryth were trusting or reckless, she thought. She noticed no warships or navel fleets around the planet. One would think a military presence so vast would be present, considering the events that transpired a month ago in Sol.

She wondered what lay out there in the blackness of space ahead of her. Were the Kryth setting a trap or would they let their newfound enemies have a seat at the table?

Only time would tell, she imagined.

Looking over at the large docking stations around this side of the planet, Droe could see many of the other races’ ships had arrived. She guessed the number to be between seventeen and twenty so far.

There were also smaller service shuttles going to and from the planet surface, no doubt controlled taxis, as the Kryth disallowed self-transportation to the conference center below except for their own. Convenient indeed, she thought.

This wasn’t an open, free to come and go as you please conference, but a controlled one. One in which the Kryth could pull the strings of the other subjugated races at will.

As the
Orion’s Rage
approached, she saw the largest ship there, second only to the Rage of course, a Vrae dreadnaught-class cruiser. The Vrae ship was close to two thousand meters in length.

“I hope we get to park next to that one,” she said, “Give them a little size envy.” She laughed.

“We are clear to dock at station three,” Kansec spoke.

“Good. Move us into position and alert the delegation.”

Droe would remain onboard the
Orion’s Rage
as Commander Parejas, Keeper Alon, Kason’s team, and two of Nevlen’s troopers led the human party to the conference floor where they hoped to be allowed to speak and to explain in detail why they were there.

She wondered to herself why the Assembly moved up the date so soon after the invasion of Sol. No matter. Even if it didn’t go as planned, they had contingency plans and she was ready for any surprises the Kryth could throw at them.

The
Orion’s Rage
came to a rest alongside the docking port of the station. The great ship dwarfed the station in its entirety.

Shenta Parejas could imagine what their Kryth hosts on the other side of the air-dock were thinking as humanity’s greatest asset moved into position.

The air-dock released and parted.

∞∞∞

Commander Parejas and the delegation moved forward to the final sealed door through the connector tunnel of the Kryth station.

The door slid upward and a small Kryth hosting party met their new human guests.

Parejas stepped forward first to greet them.

The three Kryth hosts’ eyes were wide at the sight of the humans.

Parejas knew it was mostly due to seeing the Reavers. The Kryth on average were seven feet in height, where Parejas and Kason measured 6’2” and 6’5”.

The Reavers should be getting a few more glances throughout the conference, Parejas thought. He wasn’t sure if that worked in their favor, but knew if it didn’t, he didn’t care. If anything, he wanted to send a message. A message that, if anyone were fool enough to attack like their Kryth hosts, they would deal with the same Reavers they stared at now.

Shenta nodded to his hosts.

The only thing that bothered Parejas was the conference only allowed a ten-person group, including any security detail. The Kryth wanted to keep this tight, Parejas noted, as they should, with what had happened.

The Kryth spoke the formal greeting in their own language first before handing Parejas a universal translator.

Parejas waved his hand, denying the device and replied in Krythtinian.

“Thank you so much for the warm greeting. I assume you will be escorting us to the conference floor?”

The three Kryth looked at each another, stunned that this race knew their language. If that surprised them, they would be astonished to learn how much the humans knew of their culture.

The main Kryth host responded. “Welcome, Commander Parejas. Yes, I am your guide to the conference floor. Please, have your delegation follow us.”

The Kryth began to move towards the other side of the station, where a Kryth shuttle awaited them. The Kryth motioned the human party to enter.

As they entered, Kason looked around at the shuttle interior.

“This looks familiar,” Kason said.

Keelen followed his comment. “I hope this one rides better than the last one.”

“I’m sure it wasn’t the shuttle but your flying skills, Keelen,” Maddox responded.

“My flying’s fine. I was just a little tired, that’s all.”

“The ‘midget’ Cuukzen could have flown it better,” Maddox replied, getting another shot in on Keelen.

“Say what?” Keelen snapped.

Alon broke the banter. “Gentlemen, I presume you will act in accordance to our mission statement and be perfect guests to our new friends, errm, enemies. We wouldn’t want to give any wrong impressions now would we?”

“A little late for that now, Keeper,” Maddox replied.

Alon turned around towards the two Reavers and chuckled, as he agreed with their sentiment.

The shuttle entered the blue atmosphere and headed to a bluff overlooking a coastline near a vast sea.

The conference complex was brilliant as the sun’s rays reflected off its marble crystalline surface. The shuttle rolled in to one of the many landing pads, just outside the conference grounds.

As the ramp lowered, the Kryth hosts were first to disembark. The human delegation soon followed, and were led towards the large structure.

Kason could see other shuttles arriving and departing. In the distance, other races walked towards the conference center. This should be interesting. Once they enter, all eyes should be on them.

Kason regarded this as an
Ordinance
mission, not a political greeting of ambassadors, but a military operation.

He didn’t trust the Kryth.

His six-man team along with the delegation approached the conference entrance.

Kason saw that all the alien eyes were on them as the group entered, just as he wanted.

Kason recognized many of the races but a few were new to him. He always wondered why the majority of intelligent sentient races seemed to be humanoid, or bipedal in nature. Maybe this was the chosen biology for intelligent life, Kason supposed.

As the group passed, he noticed the different demeanors of the races.

Some stared while others glared.

He could tell which ones were affable to the Kryth. He could also see the ones who were interested in this new enemy of the Domain. He even found a few who nodded with polite greetings. These were other security detail who had heard what the humans did in Sol to their Kryth masters, no doubt.

Kason nodded to them in turn with respect, one soldier to another.

The human delegation was led into the conference chamber.

The main forum was circular with a large speaking platform in the center. Halfway up, the middle section of the room had large box sections for each race’s main delegation to sit. Non-conference members and other audience sat in the remaining lower seats.

Kason noted the room held up to around 10,000 members.

The chamber chatter died down as the humans entered.

Kason looked around until he found the Kryth box to the upper left of the speaking podium. A familiar face peered back down at him; one he saw not so long ago, Lintorth Sol.

The human delegation was led to their seats on the lower portion, close to the speaking podium.

Kason saw the last seat for their group empty. That seat would sit Nevlen Bossarios when he re-joined the team.

Nevlen had sent an urgent communique that he would meet up with the team with critical information in hand, but did not want to broadcast his report due to the security situation they were now in.

Either way, Kason awaited his two Reavers’ return under Nevlen’s command. He would be glad to have them back.

A Goudransk speaker approached the podium as the conference began.

The Goudransk had elongated necks that matched their thinner-than-normal bodies.

Kason wasn’t sure if the pinkish and gray skin was skin or scales or something else. Either way, he didn’t care to get too close to find out.

Given the nature of Kryth allies, it’s always best to shoot first and ask questions later, when dealing with any of the Domain’s lackeys.

Everyone in the chamber began sitting down and preparing for the conference to get underway. All awaited the new human invitees to speak.

Kason couldn’t wait until this circus was over.

Data Cell 24

             
Lintorth’s gaze was
transfixed on the human delegation down below and to his right.

His mind was wondering what would happen when the humans got up to speak. Will all be told, including the secrets of two hundred and sixty-seven moons ago?

Lintorth knew it would not come to that. His hidden Si troops would see to it.

Xoma Si herself gave the order to eliminate the humans before they could leak any information.

Lintorth was charged with carrying out the order to its completion, though he wasn’t sure how it would occur or if this was the best course of action at this time.

He continued to catch a particular stare from one of the human armored beings down below.

The one Lintorth presumed was their team leader was staring up into the box at him. The facial mask seemed familiar somehow. Lintorth knew it wasn’t the same one whom he’d battled, but still, the mask did look familiar.

Lintorth felt as though the dark gold eye lenses were centered on him; but, from his position, Lintorth could not discern for whom the look was intended. The warrior could be looking at anyone in the box seats.

Kason and his team waited in the back along a wall where all security detail for each delegation were positioned.

Shenta and Alon were up front waiting for the council chair to present them.

Kason scanned around the circular room for anything out of the ordinary.

He didn’t trust the Kryth and, if he had it his way, he would level the entire building, just to make sure.

A few less Kryth is always a good start to a good day, Kason mused.

Just then, Nevlen came rushing through the entrance to their aisle. He was out of breath.

Nevlen looked over at Kason with a worrisome expression.

His appearance caused Kason concern, as Nevlen proceeded down the aisle to where Commander Parejas and Keeper Alon were sitting.

Kason was listening in on Parejas’ and Nevlen’s conversation by means of their com implants.

Nevlen was frantic when he sat down next to the two.

What Kason heard next infuriated him.

Nevlen was saying that they were attacked and the shuttle had crashed on the planet’s surface, leaving two Reaver survivors; namely, Ramek and Jens. He didn’t want to risk a rescue mission and thought the Reavers could make it on their own, until a real rescue effort was made after the conference.

Kason was enraged.

He wanted to bolt for Nevlen this moment. As anger boiled his blood, his mind flashed with unbridled hatred towards the man.

Shenta Parejas turned, looking behind him towards Kason.

Kason’s body language made it clear he’d heard the discussion.

Parejas whispered, “Kason, I want you to remain calm and focused. We will all speak of this after Alon’s speech. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, sir,” Kason growled.

Kason’s stare never left Nevlen.

Parejas knew the fury now burning inside the Reaver. He would have to keep Nevlen and Kason separated until after the conference. The commander was just glad, for the time being, the security details were not sitting with them. Come to think of it, Nevlen was pleased that the details were in the back of the room, Parejas noted.

Parejas’ thought was interrupted by the council chair introducing the human delegation.

It was Alon’s turn to speak.

Alon left his aisle seat and made his way up to the podium in the center of the room.

Silence fell upon all races as they waited to hear the humans speak for the first time.

Lintorth’s keen eye caught the disturbance from the human group when the tall slender one entered and sat down.

He didn’t know what but something was happening. Was it time now to commence the ambush? Or, wait a few more minutes until the human speaker got to his main point about the Kryth and the Sol system?

He knew patience was the key and not to act prematurely.

Gifts come when one least expects, Lintorth thought.

It was this precise gift Lintorth now took possession of as Sontar Jal entered the box.

Sontar Jal’s eager grin held the key. A red cloth that hung at the side of Sontar Jal’s hip. It was the same uniform piece that these human warriors wore.

Lintorth turned to look down at the humans.

The leader in the back was now, more than ever, gazing in his direction.

The warrior’s posture was evident and Lintorth knew why.

The sash cloth!

Lintorth approached Sontar.

Sontar beamed with victory. “Come to congratulate me, brother?” Sontar said, biting at every word.

“You killed one?” Lintorth asked.

“Killed one and captured another. You couldn’t even bring down one; yet, I brought down two. I do not know the problem you had with them, but they were nothing like the warriors you stated them to be.”

Lintorth was in no mood for bravado with what he considered to be a spineless uniform draped over a Kryth’s body.

He reached down and pulled the sash away from Sontar’s side. “Listen, brother, I have no time to discuss your earned victories. You are the better of us today; I bow in your presence, but I must borrow this from you now,” Lintorth said almost choking on his unwanted words of congratulations to Sontar.

“You will not steal my glory to claim for your own, Lintorth. The Si knows who is better.” Sontar seethed with anger.

“Watch now, brother, as your great take-down of the armored warrior is put to good use,” Lintorth said.

Lintorth motioned for a Kryth soldier to approach him.

Sontar was perplexed at what Lintorth meant.

Lintorth leaned in and began to whisper, handing the red cloth to the soldier.

Sontar was trying hard to hear the hushed talk but was unable.

Lintorth finished and nodded to the soldier.

Without delay, the Kryth soldier left the box.

“What was that about?” Sontar questioned.

“Watch and learn, dear brother. You may think you have surpassed me in competence, but only in your arrogance do you tell yourself these things,” Lintorth said.

Lintorth raised his wrist to his mouth and spoke, “All positions. Wait for my command.”

Lintorth moved to the front of the box to get a better look at the human warrior staring back at him. He watched with anticipation as the Kryth soldier entered the lower level next to the armored humans.

Lintorth saw the soldier approach the human in black, holding out the red cloth of his fallen comrade.

The seconds that followed felt as if time slowed. Lintorth knew what words the Kryth soldier spoke now to the human warrior.

Lintorth heard the human speaker at the podium articulate of times past, of when their kind first fled the Sol system from the Kryth.

The timing of what Lintorth was trying to accomplish was at hand.

The taunt he issued to the Kryth soldier was in full effect upon his enemy even before his held breath could be expelled from his lungs.

Kason, with a war cry, sank his gauntleted blades in the mid-section of the Kryth soldier who stood before him.

With a primeval yell, he hoisted the soldier high into the air.

The screams that issued from the Kryth, dangling on Kason’s bladed hand, reverberated throughout the entire chamber, silencing Alon’s words of human history.

Blood ran down Kason’s arm and onto the floor.

Shrieks from the crowd rang through the room at the sight of the human Reaver holding up the impaled Kryth.

Weapons’ fire rained down on the human position from the hidden Si Troops Lintorth had placed.

Explosions soon overtook any cries with spectators fleeing to the nearest exits as chaos ensued.

Kason’s rage was broken by his commander’s voice. The lone words pulled Kason away from his incensed blood lust.

“Get to Alon! He’s down!”