OMEGA Allegiance (22 page)

Garrett grinned as he looked down at the pilot. "Gasua, have you ever been tortured?"

I gave him a disturbed look.

Garrett smirked. "What? It's just a simple question."

Gasua volunteered an answer. "No. I have not ... been tortured."

Garrett smiled. "Good. So,
we
are going to ask questions,
you
are going to answer those questions. And I want you to keep in mind: that rampway behind you, I can lower it at any time. Have you ever been spaced, Gasua?"

The nervous pilot shook his head. "I don't know what I can tell you that is of value. I'm just a shuttle pilot. I keep to my own business."

Garrett nodded. "OK, well, we all try to do that. You can't help but know some things; you need that to perform your job. Plus everyone is a little curious—you hear things, you talk to your friends, you see bits of charts or plans that you then piece together in your mind. But that's OK, we all do it. You, Gasua, are now going to tell us what you know. And that Green in there, he will be talking next."

Gasua shook his head. "The Grotus will not answer your questions, but I will."

Garrett looked over at me. "Interesting. So, you, a Grumar, answer to the Grotus?"

Gasua nodded as he gazed intently at me. "Why would we not? The Grotus are our gods."

Garrett rolled his eyes. "Great. Looks like we have a species that will do anything for their overlords."

Garrett turned back to the pilot. "If the Grotus are your gods, why is one of them lying back there under our compete control? And why are you answering our questions?"

Gasua gestured towards me. "Because another is here in front of me. I will do as commanded."

Garrett let out a modest laugh.

I turned to face Garrett. "What? You thought that was funny?"

Garrett shook his head. "No. Just ironic. I think what Mr. Mont is saying is that he will truthfully answer whatever question we ask. Why don't I begin. Mr. Mont. How many planets are in the Grotus empire?"

Gasua replied: "The Grand Duration, if we count the two Moddle worlds that have recently been captured, numbers seventy-nine."

I continued, "The soldiers that have been coming to this planet, where are they now?"

Gasua took a breath. "The Moddle soldiers have been taken to the Bilotha worlds to fight. There are seven worlds there. I do not have knowledge of how the war goes, other than that we are making progress. The Alliance soldiers are fighting on the Moddle worlds. Their origins have yet to be located, however. When they are, they too will become subjects of the Grotus."

"And the Grumar, how do they fit in the Grand Duration?" I asked.

Gasua replied, "We are the keepers of the worlds. We are the chosen race. The Grotus selected us to rebuild the captured worlds to their vision. All who oppose are sent off to fight for the Duration."

Garrett raised his hand. "What about the Doomlighters?"

Gasua nodded. "The Doomlighters resisted, but many would not fight. They were terminated."

Garrett leaned back. "That is not going to be good news for the one we captured. Gasua, the moon, what were the work crews constructing?"

Gasua replied, "The building was to be the first of many. The moon base was to be reconstructed so that the planet below could be repopulated by citizens of the Duration."

I cut in. "Let's go back to the Doomlighters. So, they were eliminated? Are you saying that
all
of them were eliminated?"

Gasua nodded. "Yes. Those who would fight, fought and died, those who would not were exterminated."

"I have a question for you," Garrett said. "How many Grotus are there?"

Gasua replied, "There are over fourteen million now. When they first came to us more than three hundred years ago, their number was just under fifty thousand."

Garrett continued, "So, these fifty thousand, you just accepted them as gods?"

Gasua shook his head. "No. There was a great battle. The fifty thousand defeated an army of nearly two billion. The Illumination, as the war has come to be called, lasted for nearly fifteen years. The Grotus are fierce warriors, we could not match their strength or skill on the battlefield. Their weapons were superior, their tactics and strategies superior, they were superior, and now we serve them and we prosper."

Garrett crossed his arms. "Before the Grotus came, was the Grumar empire prosperous, were you an aggressive species?"

Gasua replied, "We were prosperous, yes. We had an empire of twenty-six worlds. It was not formed through aggression, but through trade. Our military did well against the pirates who would prey on our trade routes, but no hostile empires threatened us. The Grotus have since shown us the way. The Duration is strong and growing. Other empires fear, because they do not understand the enlightenment that the Grotus bring to us. Though it does not matter. Eventually they all understand."

Garrett half laughed. "Except the Doomlighters, they apparently just didn't get it."

Gasua nodded. "That was an unfortunate outcome for them. All they had to do was accept that which is ordained by the Grotus and they would have lived and prospered."

I leaned in. "What are the star coordinates of the Duration worlds? Do you have them memorized? What region of space do they occupy?"

Gasua answered the question in fine detail. The capital world was Mayanis. Only Grotus were allowed. The Grumar took orders for goods which were delivered to an orbiting station before the Grotus transported them to the surface.

Our questioning of the Grumar pilot continued for hours. He was completely open with his answers, offering whatever assistance he could to the god who sat before him. It was his duty, he was bound to do so.

The Grotus remained unconscious. We began to fear that his injury was more severe than it appeared. There was little sign of blood and no other sign of injury.

With the hours of the standard day coming to an end, I gave Garrett the first shot at taking the rest he had attempted several days before. As he slept, I watched over our prisoners.

Upon arrival back at the portal gate area, Gasua was transferred to a holding cell while the Green was taken to a medical lab. I stood watch as the ship's surgeon removed the Green's remaining body armor, followed by the platform pole. The Green's arm was permanently damaged, but he would live. As our captive began to come to, I left the room.

Garrett was standing outside. "You got out of there in a hurry. What gives?"

"I do not want the Green to know that the Grays live. They would turn all of their energies towards our elimination. I need to return to warn our people of their existence. We must prepare."

Garrett glanced around the corner into the room. "He's groggy but awake. You are really taking this Green thing seriously, aren't you?"

I nodded. "Our knowledge is limited to an oral history of our beginnings. One that was passed down from each generation to the next. All of the accounts of the Greens speak of the atrocities they committed against our people. We could have lived peacefully with them but they had nothing but raw hatred for us. It's better that they not know of our existence."

Garrett winced as a commotion erupted in the medical recovery room. "Whoa. I'd say he is fully awake now, and he is not happy. I thought those restraints you insisted on were a little overkill. Now I'm not so sure they are adequate."

"They will hold."

Once the Green settled down, Garrett pulled his head back. "Are we ready to start with our questions?"

I shook my head. "You may try, but I have to believe the Green will answer no questions."

Garrett half laughed. "That coming from the creator of Reactionary Psychology or whatever it was."

I thought for a moment. "Are you suggesting we might derive the answers to our questions by having the green react to our suggestions?"

Garrett smiled. "Sure, if that works. You feed me your suggestions over the comm and I will try for a good reaction. Should we get started now?"

I nodded. "It would be best. The longer he sits there, the better mentally prepared he will be for your questions."

Garrett glanced back around the corner. "Are there any truth drugs we can administer? Anything that will make him groggy and talkative?"

I shook my head. "No. My people do not get loose tongues when under the influence of those types of substances. If we feel out of sorts, we no longer talk. The same goes for torture."

Garrett half smiled as he continued to watch the Green. "Remind me to never be your enemy. I don't think I would like it. If you're ready, we can get started."

I nodded. "I'll be in the adjacent room watching on a holo-display. I'll feed you questions or statements that should elicit reactions. Feel free to add any of your own if you believe it will help. Our goal is getting information. We want to know all we can about the Greens and their interactions with the Alliance. What relationship do they have with us? Why are our people being sent off to fight the Moddles?"

Garrett winked before turning away. I moved to the viewing room and sat with Joni in front of a large holo-display.

Garrett walked up to the Green. "Good. I see you're finally awake. I thought you were a goner."

The Green scowled. "We do not die easily, Human."

I turned to Joni, who had joined me. "He is aware of Humans. He must have knowledge of their interactions with the Grumar."

I typed out a few more suggestions for Garrett to use.

Garrett nodded. "OK, well, since I have already killed a half dozen of your kind with my bare hands, I would have to differ about your dying easily. But proving who is the stronger species here today is not what we are after. There really is no comparison. What I would like to know is what you were building on that moon?"

The Green let out a low growl. "You have not killed a half dozen Grotus. Even with one arm, I would rip your limbs from your body and beat you with them!"

Garrett stepped forward, poking his thumb up under the Green's good arm. The Green winced in pain.

Garrett smiled. "I know all of your weaknesses, which, despite your stature, make you very easy to subdue. I wouldn't equate that with some great species. In fact, I would bet the Grumar would be fascinated by that little fact."

I crossed my arms. "I'm not comfortable with him speaking about our vulnerability."

Joni replied, "Relax, it's just you, me, and him. No one else is watching or listening, just as you requested."

Garrett continued: "Back to that moon base. Why are you planning to rebuild it? Oh, and one other question, why would a supposed god be sent up there to be a common supervisor? You must be on the bottom of the Grotus hierarchy. Are you slower or dumber than the others?"

The Green again growled. "I will enjoy tearing out your heart, Human. No Grotus is superior to any other. We all perform the tasks that we are given."

Garrett raised his hand. "Ah! So, someone is giving you orders. Forgive me, but that sounds a lot like a hierarchy to me. Someone with more authority must be telling you what to do. But go ahead and believe that you are all equal. I'm sure your people could get a lot done when voting with a committee of fourteen million Grotus."

Garrett walked around the gurney holding the Green. "Speaking of the fourteen million, I find it interesting that you would make some deal with the Moddle to send troops to Bilotha rather than fight there yourselves. I mean, aren't you supposed to be the great warriors? You are here as a supervisor. Doesn't that make the Grotus more like administrators than fighters?"

Garrett raised his hand to his chin. "Huh. Maybe that's why I was able to kill your brethren so easily, you've grown soft."

The Green writhed in anger. "Cut me loose and I will show you soft. I will show you the softness of your skull when I smash it in with my fist. Why should we risk our own lives when we have others we can put at risk? The Moddle are mere tools for us to wield to meet our ends."

Garrett raised his eyebrows. "Ah, so I see, you are sending others to fight for you out of fear! If you are the wonder warriors that you say, wouldn't the expansion of the empire go faster with Grotus doing the fighting? Aren't you just wasting time?"

The Green seethed as Garrett continued to circle the gurney. "We fight only when necessary. Why should I foul my nostrils with the stench of another species when I can send five Humans to do it for me? That is not fear, that is intelligence."

Garrett leaned in. "If you Grotus are so intelligent, why are you here, strapped to that gurney? Kind of makes you look foolish."

Joni shook her head. "Man, that guy is going to explode if he's not careful. He is really working him over. I'm actually enjoying this!"

The Green gritted his teeth. "It is you Humans who are weak of mind. You send your own people to fight for our expansion. Who are the fools in that scenario?"

Garrett nodded. "I don't follow. We have already secured three worlds. We will be populating those worlds, along with Doomlight, soon. Once we are established, it is the Duration or whatever you are calling it, that will cease to endure. The Human empire spans galaxies. Your, what is it, seventy-nine colonies? Your seventy-nine colonies are no more than a single sector in our empire. It is you who are weakening our enemies for us, which will allow us to expand more rapidly. The troops we are sending through for you to use are just a ruse. They are nothing more than criminals, colonists who didn't pay their taxes, conscripts if you will. When the mighty armies of our empire arrive, the Grand Duration will be little more than the Grand Annihilation."

I remarked. "Wow. He did that one all on his own. I think Garrett missed his calling. He would have been a great interrogator for the security forces."

The Green jerked at the bindings that held him down. "You no more control entire galaxies than I have a long tail! Our technology, our weapons, and our armor is superior to the feeble ships you send to our sector. We do not fear Humans. We loathe Humans and the species you send to fight. They are weak and ill-trained for combat.

"The Moddle were pushing back the Doomlighters when you showed up. You managed to turn that fight around. Then the two of you turned on each other. We dealt with the remainder of the Doomlight population as both of your pathetic armies fought against one another. Now you are each fighting for us on other worlds. You are fighting the Moddle on their home worlds while the Moddle fight a totally separate war for us, while believing they are fighting on your home worlds."

Garrett nodded his head. "Yes, we are fully aware of what you believe you are doing. When finished, we will control the Moddle worlds, and the Bolitha worlds will have been sufficiently weakened for an easy takeover by our main battle force. I have to say, we take great pleasure in the ease with which you Grotus are manipulated."

Garrett stopped and turned. "One thing I find fascinating is that we know the location of your worlds, and yet, you have no idea of the location of ours. Don't you find it troubling that we just show up from seemingly nowhere?"

The Green's scowl turned to a grin. "It is only a matter of time. We have interrogated a number of your people who all tell the same lies of traveling between galaxies, a feat that is not physically possible."

Garrett threw up his hands. "And yet we are here!"

The Green growled.

Garrett lowered his arms. "You seem to be greatly bothered by my confidence. I have to call into question whether or not the Grotus would be worthy of joining our empire. Given what I know, I believe you could be productive citizens, but there are others who believe your species to be beneath the status we offer our citizenship. They feel you are not much beyond common barnyard animals who are to be milked or ground up as protein meal for other, tastier meat-bearing herd animals. You know, boraks will eat just about anything."

The Green raged and yelled. "Humans are the inferior species! It is you who will be food for animals! I will personally see to it that you are ground into feed for galligs! Our weapons are ten times that of your latest battlecruisers! Our armor will absorb and deny damage from your weak ion cannons! Our warriors will march through the streets of your cities, destroying all in their path! You will bow to the power and might of the Grand Duration and the Grotus!"

Garrett paused as he fiddled with his arm pad, bringing up an image of one of the great ships we had observed at Doomlight. "Now hold on. Ten times the power? You aren't talking about these ships having ten times the power, are you? If so, well yes, if you are comparing them to the meager fleets we have been sending your way. They are not close in power to the main battle fleet of the Alliance."

Garrett laughed. "I can't tell you any specifics, but suffice it to say our ships are far superior to the garbage scows you call your best. Unless you have something to offer besides these
ore haulers
you call battlecruisers, I suggest you rethink your position!"

The Green quieted at the notion that the Grotus fleet was inferior. The Greens were a proud species. They would not be bested, they would not be made fools of.

Garrett turned off the display and offered his best angry face. "We have a thousand spies on each of your worlds! We know the movement of your ships before
you
know the movement of your ships! The Alliance will be coming to your worlds soon enough. There are even traitors among your own species! We will come, the Grumar will cower in fear and the Grotus will wash our feet before you are all slaughtered and your hides tanned to make boots and belts for the commoners of our citizenry! Great warriors. Pffft!"

With that, Garrett turned and left the room. The Green was left to brood over the lies he had been told.

Garrett entered the monitoring room. "Wow. That was intense! I thought he was going to burn a hole through me with his eyes!"

Joni replied, "I hope you never need to interrogate me! I thought he might burst into flames right there while you were poking him!"

I nodded. "I can't say I would have fared well in that exchange. He gave up much more information than I thought possible. The lies you told about the Alliance were particularly helpful."

Garrett sat. "Yeah, it went well. Only problem is it confirms what we were thinking when we saw those battlecruisers. We don't have anything that would stand up to even one of those ships. We'll have to quiz Gasua about how many they might have. Right now we are pretty much defenseless."

I shook my head. "That is not true. Right now we have the space between galaxies to keep us safe. Unless we open the door, they cannot come through and are of little threat."

Garrett crossed his arms. "And what of the other portal gates here in Andromeda? If they conquer this place, they would control those gates, one of which opens to the Triangulum."

I nodded. "While it may be true that they could take those portals, the ones which connect to the other galaxies can only be opened if both ends are willing to do so. Our gate to Andromeda is shut down. No one goes out or comes through."

Joni added, "And who says they couldn't figure out how to manipulate a gate like my uncle? That is a single gate they used to get us here. If we can do it, so can someone else."

Garrett looked up at the holo-display of the Green. "Anything else you want to know from him? The longer we let him sit there the sooner he is going to wise up and stop talking."

Joni gestured towards the display. "See if you can get him to reveal how many of those big ships they have. And try to get out of him if there is an actual hierarchy. If there is, that might give us a targeting order should an opportunity arise."

I nodded. "Both good points to know. I suspect they are like every other species out there in that either a small group is in charge, or an individual. See if they have the concept of a king. My people once had a royal family. And see if there are any other species on their other home worlds besides the Grumar. They are egomaniacs. They would require subjects to rule over. If there are a number of different species, perhaps one day we would be able to pit one against another.