Human Chronicles Part 2 Book 3: A Galaxy to Conquer (30 page)

Chapter 45

“F
ire control, target count?” Fleet Admiral Jacob Nash called out from the bridge of
The Trident
. The voice from CIC came over the bridge 1-MC. “Too numerous to count, sir. We have to break them down by zone.”

“Then do it! Commander Woodlake, begin designating firing zones, assigning targets as they become known. Allocate assets as required.”

“Yes sir,” another voice said through the speakers.

“Admiral Bergmann, I’m heading to CIC,” said Nash as he jumped down from his command chair. “Move the flagship to the rear.”

“Aye, sir.” Gone was all the familiarity in the conversation. They all had on their battle faces.

********

“The Humans are aligning for an attack, Command-Overlord. Our ships are responding in kind, however, at the speed of the aliens, we are having trouble identifying individual targets.”

“Charge all batteries,” Lord Enulic commanded. “Spread disbursements will be required to catch the Humans in flight. Move my ship to the rear so I can maintain command as long as is possible.”

“Yes my Lord.”

Chapter 46

“T
his is crazy!” Adam yelled out. “The Juireans are not our enemy—not really. It’s the fucking Kracori!”

“Well from the look of things, it’s the Juireans and us who are going to annihilate each other. And who does that leave as the last man standing?” Admiral Tobias said, venom dripping from his voice.

“Well I can’t let this happen,” Adam declared. “Jym, can you set up a broadband signal to both fleets.”

“Yes I can, if anyone will respond.”

“Do it, and let’s find out.”

“What are you going to say?” Sherri asked as she and Riyad buckled into seats along the rear bulkhead.

“Heluva I know. But I have to try something.”

“Go ahead Adam; you’re broadcasting.”

“This is Captain Adam Cain aboard the
Pegasus
,” he announced. “I am presently located between the Human and Juirean fleets. Please respond.”

Almost immediately the speakers crackled. “Captain Cain, this is Fleet Admiral Nash. I acknowledge your location. Proceed to port at best possible speed. You will be cleared through the line.”

“Thank you sir, but I’m not leaving just yet.”

“What?”

“Adam, I have another link coming through,” Jym said.

“Link them all together, Jym.”

“This is Adam Cain; am I speaking with the Juirean fleet command?”

“This is Elder Wydor bu Sulic. Is this really Adam Cain I am speaking with?”

“Elder Wydor!
I was not aware you were aboard the fleet. So you remember me?”

“How could I not? Our last physical encounter was on Juir, and then we had a conversation following that. You do tend to show up at the strangest times.”

Adam let out a small chuckle.
Ain’t that right,
he thought. “Elder Wydor, I also have Fleet Admiral Jacob Nash on this link. I believe we all need to talk before something drastic happens.”

“Adam Cain, your fleet is aligning for an attack upon my forces. We will defend ourselves.”

“It is your forces who have been stalking my fleet, Mr. Wydor,” Admiral Nash countered.

“Either way, we just to all need take a moment at think about this,” Adam said. “If the two of you fight, it will be that bastard Nomar who comes out the winner.”

“Nomar?” Nash asked.

“He is the Langril of the Kracori race—their leader,” replied Elder Wydor. Adam smiled. At least he had the two sides talking.

“That’s right,” said Adam. “So my question to you, Lord Wydor, is why have the Juireans allied with the Kracori against the Humans? It was the Kracori who destroyed Juir, not us.”

“We have not allied with the Kracori, Adam Cain. That would presume an equal status of our races. The Kracori surrendered to the Juireans. They have offered their services at our direction.”

“That’s not what Nomar is telling us. He’s saying you are allies, and together you will defeat the Humans. And yet, where are his forces now?”

“It was not our intent to confront the Humans when we came to the Nebula. And yet, you must admit, your race has designs on the destruction of the Juireans.”

“Just as the Juireans have on us.” Nash again countered.

“That may be so,” Wydor said through the link. “Yet that is simply a natural dynamic between two powerful entities. Each seeks to absorb the other.”

“Chemistry lessons aside,” Adam said, “whatever our differences, the natural culmination of that situation would come at a future date—”

“Unless it comes now,” Wydor interrupted.

“To what end, Lord Wydor? Your fleet is larger, yet ours is swifter. We will end up destroying each other. And then the Klin—who you have sought for over four thousand years—will survive. And the Kracori, the enemy of both our races, will emerge as the strongest military force in the galaxy. Do you want them assuming control of the Expansion?”

“Juireans are once more on Juir, Adam Cain,” Wydor said. “The Juirean people are more than this fleet. We will survive to counter the Kracori insurgency.”

“But why should you? Let
us
do it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Admiral Nash, your forces are fully capable of defeating the Kracori, even with a full fleet, are they not?”

“That’s what we came for.”

“And Lord Wydor, the Klin are directly in front of you. And from our information, there are twenty huge ships, not just the five you’ve been tracking. This may be all the Klin that are left. Are you prepared to let them escape while you fight a losing battle with the Humans?”

The speakers within the pilothouse of the
Pegasus
were quiet for an uncomfortably long time. Adam looked around the room at all the questioning eyes staring back at him. Damn, this is taking a while.

“Adam Cain ... and your Admiral Nash,” Wydor’s voice finally emerged from the speakers. “I will make you a proposal.”

“Go ahead,” said the voice of Fleet Admiral Nash.

“A ceasefire, as my forces pursue the Klin and your forces engage those of the Kracori—as Adam Cain has suggested. It is indeed more significant to the Juireans to defeat the Klin than anything else at this point in time. And we will accept as gratification of sorts that the Kracori will suffer at the hands of the Humans.”

“Admiral?” Adam said.

“I’m here Mr. Cain. I find the proposal acceptable, even though I wonder what is to keep the Juireans from attacking us after we’ve engaged the Kracori? Their defeat of the unarmed Klin ships will take little effort on their part. And after fighting the Kracori, our fleet would be vulnerable to a Juirean counter strike.”

“Spoken as a true warrior, Admiral Nash,” Wydor replied. “I understand your trepidation and would feel the same if the roles were reversed. So as an amendment to my last proposal, I offer half my fleet as a supplement to yours as you go to meet the Kracori. With such assistance, your fleet will not suffer as many losses, and yet my fleet will to some degree. I feel that is an equitable arrangement.”

Adam raised his eyebrows and looked to an equally-startled Admiral Andy Tobias.

“Lord Wydor,” Nash began, “I find your offer more than generous. We would have to work out the logistics—command structure and the like—but I believe that would work from our perspective. But how will your units feel about working with the Humans?”

“I am the Elder of the Juirean Council Elite, Admiral Nash; they will do as they are instructed.” Adam could almost hear the smile in Wydor’s voice.

“Then it’s settled!” Adam announced. “Now if you will both stand down your forces, maybe I can return to the fleet for a hot meal and beer.”

“It is agreed,” said Elder Wydor.

“Roger that, Captain. Proceed to docking. First round is on me.”

********

“The progress is very slow, Pleabaen,” the Klin on the screen was saying. “The path through the Shield can be cleared ahead of a pod, but then the orbits of other material is altered to fill the void and to also assault the pod. Another will be required to follow closely behind to keep the path clear.”

The glory of the Dysion Shield was evident in all its brilliance from the observation deck of the pod Wesselian Velsum was aboard. Even though he couldn’t see it from here, he knew that the first pod in the Colony was now slowly working its way through the Shield. And yet as the technician on the screen had related, the pod was taking considerable damage to its rear as more material was being drawn in by the enormous depth of the gravity-well required to move the massive spacecraft.

“Then send
Twelve
in behind. This passage is a learning experience for us all, and we must apply our new knowledge as it is acquired.”

“I will order it so.” The screen went blank.

Even though the going was slow and treacherous, Velsum was still feeling extremely energetic and pleased with himself. The bulk of his Colony had met no hostile forces on their approach to the Shield, and even now, there was news that Senior Fellow Huriniss’s five pods were now clear of their Juirean pursuers and due on station momentarily.

The last report Huriniss had made did indicate that the Juirean and Human forces had made contact and were positioning for an engagement. The five remaining elements of his Colony had proceeded out of the area on maximum drive, and were now well clear of the combat zone.

Velsum tried to visualize the incredible energies now passing through space as the mighty fleets collided. It would be the largest single space battle to ever take place in the galaxy. And they would destroy each other, taking with them to the grave their knowledge of the Klin Colony. The Klin would live—as they had always lived—and would continue to plan for a time when they would assume their rightful place within the universe. The Klin had started it all, only to have their birthright stolen from them by the Juireans. And now those same Juireans were paying the ultimate price for their—

The datapad in Velsum’s hand chimed. Annoyed with the interruption of his fantasy musings, he pressed the connect button.

“What is it?” It was uncommon for the Pleabaen to sound so annoyed to others of his race.

“Extreme emergency, Pleabaen!” the excited voice cried out through the datapad. “There is a large force closing on our station.”

“Large force; has it been identified?”

“Yes, they are Juirean, and Senior Fellow Huriniss is just now reporting his pods are coming under fire.”

What has happened? What happened to the glorious battle taking place between the Juireans and the Humans?

Velsum had little time to contemplate.

“Order all pods through the Shield, with two providing clearing duties, while the rest proceed through the middle of the opening.”

“The two leading pods will surely take destructive damage.”

“So be it. Then replace them with others,” Velsum shouted, which was a total departure from Klin decorum. “If some pods do not make it through, then the entire Colony dies here.”

“Understood, Pleabaen.”

Velsum saw the stars around him begin to shift slightly, as the pod he was in began to move toward the Shield. He would have to vacate the observation dome soon since it was evident most pods would suffer terrible damage during the transit. Yet that was preferable to facing the unrelenting firepower of the Juirean fleet.

And as the incredible flood of emotions flowed through the Pleabaen, he could envision a future where no Klin made it through the Shield; another where the Juireans blasted half a million Klin into oblivion. So now, out of desperation, Velsum called out to the souls of his ancestors, that with whatever powers they may possess on another plane of existence, they could see fit to spare at least some of his pods. He knew it was much to ask, and even if some did manage to make it through the Shield, their numbers would be so diminished that it would take another thousand years to replenish their population to even current levels within the galaxy.

His depression was almost debilitating, and yet Wesselian Velsum could not succumb, not until he did everything in his power to save his race from extinction.