Star Force: Resolution (SF89) (Star Force Origin Series) (5 page)

“
They believe
that if they retain possession of the Hamoriti and continue to study it and the
technology that contains it, they will eventually attain peerdom with the
Ancients
.”

The Jonstar shook its hairy head. “
They actually think they’ll be able to
capture and reclaim the awoken Hamoriti, don’t they?
”

“
They do
,”
Pattrel confirmed. “
They will become, in
their delusions, the counter to Star Force. Their control over the Hamoriti
will be no different than the Chixzon, and the Ancients defeated the Chixzon
and took their weapons from them. The Trinx aspire to this, and I believe they
have for a very long time now
.”

“
That’s why they
relocated
,” the Sety said with awe at the revelation.

“
To put
everything they had into the endeavor
,” the cyborg echoed with a nod. “
They saw themselves rising to take an
insanely high position within the galaxy, to become one of the Ancients, and
Star Force’s ability to control the Hamoriti usurps even that.
”

“
They have a
Chixzon
,” the Dati pointed out. “
And
they can control them as the Chixzon did
.”

“
Why have we been
so blind?
” the Breti asked.

“
Because we have
been protecting the Hamoriti to safeguard the galaxy
,” the cyborg stated
with considerable frustration. “
They have
been doing so to aggrandize themselves
.”

“
We have gained
much from studying the Ancient technology
,” the Sety pointed out.

“
But none of us
attacked the Star Force control ship
.”

“
Did they not
accept any of our stipulations?
” the Sety asked.

“
They have
announced that they’re willing to remain within their own star system.
Everything they need for their ascension is there, so they’re willing to cut
all ties with us and the outside
.”

“
Repayment for
losses?
” the Dati asked.

“
Refused
.”

“
They kill our
people and expect us to just let it go?
” the Jonstar asked.

“
They have
already dismissed us. They did so when they chose to attack
.”

“
Yet they
accepted you without incident
,” the Sety pointed out.

“
To talk. There
is no reason to attack our ships, and they did not bar us from returning
.”

“
What of the
rest of us?
” the cyborg asked.

“
No
warfleets
, but emissaries are permitted
.”

“
How gracious
,”
the Bpret muttered.

“
You are certain
there is no recourse?
” the Dati asked.

“
I had thought
there would be some traction possible, but I was wrong
,” Pattrel admitted
helplessly. “
Unless their representative
was not speaking truthfully, there is no hope of resolution. We either leave
them be or face war.
”

“
We don’t have
the resources for that
,” the Sety said honestly. “
We cannot and will not absolve the Trinx without contrition, but we are
not in a position to do more than offer token assistance to any invasion…the
end of which I do not see clearly. Is their destruction sought, or merely
subjugation? We have not discussed this before.
”

“
I think
,”
the cyborg said before anyone else could answer, “
that
we will have to consult Star Force as to their plans for the Trinx. I
have studied their short history, and while they are exceedingly tolerant of
others there are some lines that cannot be crossed. If they are, the freedom
they allow is quickly rescinded. They will deal with the Trinx harshly, and I
think it would be foolish of us to act prior to their response.
”

“
Are they
waiting until their invasion front reaches Trinx territory?
” the Bpret
asked.

“
They suffered
considerable ship losses in that treacherous attack
,” the Dati reminded
them. “
They do not strike me as ones that
would confront the Trinx until they had a significant advantage. They do not
accept personnel losses. It may be that the expenditure of the war against the
Li’vorkrachnika, the losses they suffered, and the expense of Preserve
construction is causing them to delay
.”

“
If we do not
encounter the Trinx outside their system, are we content with leaving Star
Force to decide their fate?
” the
Domu
asked.

The representatives exchanged glances with one
another, coming to a quick consensus.

“
The Chamra will
assist Star Force if battle is required
,” the cyborg said, “
but I do not wish to press an invasion if
they do not and the Trinx do not leave their system
.”

“
So the Trinx
proposal has some merit?
” the Yisv inquired.

“
It would seem
so, but some reckoning must be had
,” the Breti insisted.

“
Do we have the
strength to defeat them without Star Force?”
the Dati asked Pattrel.

“
They are
stockpiling the vassals that had been going to the Hamoriti. We have the
collective strength to defeat them, but are we willing to gather sufficient
strength in light of
,” he looked at the Sety, “
other needs?
”

“
I think our
path is clear
,” the cyborg decided. “
If
Star Force is to seek a reckoning we will assist, but doing so without their
presence will cost us too much. The Trinx are not worth that sacrifice if their
only concern is to hide out in their single system
.”

“
And you are
content with leaving them in possession of a Hamoriti?
” the Sety asked.

“
I am not, but I
do not wish to lose a significant portion of our fleet trying to reclaim it.
Star Force should not have to bear this burden alone, but their military is far
better configured to do this. They have not attempted to take more territory
than they can hold and have a surplus of ships that they are using to conquer
the Li’vorkrachnika. None of us has that kind of surplus, despite our larger
power bases.
”

“
You are saying
they have been more prudent in their choices?
” the
Domu
asked.

“
Yes
,” the
Yisv said, answering for the cyborg. “
And
such wisdom bodes well for their ability and willingness to honor their word
and contain the Hamoriti
.”

“
Agreed
,”
the Dati said. “
Whatever reckoning is to
come, we must coordinate with Star Force to achieve it else we will lose far
too much in what could be a futile effort
.”

5

October 30, 3288

Epsilon Eridani
System

Yisv Embassy
Station

Pattrel was awoken at the prompt of an incoming
message, his body a mere ovoid shape liquid in composition until his mind
grasped hold and the material vaporized into a dense cloud that flowed out of
the chamber previously holding him. He rematerialized into his standing bipedal
shape, taking solid form as he tapped the control crystals to play the message
from Star Force. The long discussions he and other members of the
The
Seven were having had finally bore fruit as an Archon
had been assigned to lead the agreed upon invasion.

That Archon was summoning the various representatives
to the main embassy station shared by many races, though the more formidable
races had arranged to construct their own independent ones in various orbits.
The Yisv embassy drifted lazily around the system separate from any planet,
requiring Pattrel to board a ship to travel to
Babylon 19
that rode high in
Corneria’s
orbit.

He was eager to go and was onboard an in-system transport
within minutes, arriving to find the Chamra already present in a small section
of the station reserved for The Seven. The Yisv also had a small set of
chambers here where they kept a single representative on occasion, but in truth
they had little interest in dealing with the other races present as others did.
Their concern lie primarily with their relationship to Star Force. Beyond that
there wasn’t much to concern themselves with on the busy facility, though they
did like to keep aware of current events.

Pattrel floated into the chamber and hovered behind
the ring-like table at the center of the room while the Chamra sat alone.

“
The others have
been delayed?
” the Yisv asked.

“
Rather we are
early
,” the cyborg said. “
I am interested
in hearing this Archon’s plan. If it is sound we will support them and deal
with the traitors promptly. If not I cannot justify the lives spent to deal
with a now minor thorn in our side.
”

“
Archons don’t
have a reputation for wasting troops
.”

“
Have they ever
faced an opponent as advanced as the Trinx?
”

“
They have
already faced the Trinx once
,” the Yisv pointed out, “
but I do not know of any more formidable than the Li’vorkrachnika that
they have faced previously.
”

“
Therein lies my
concern. They are used to fighting a weak enemy that masses numbers to achieve
victory. The Trinx will be much harder to combat and we may see considerable
losses
.”

“
The Archons
also have a reputation for adaption and cleverness
.”

“
So I hope
,”
the cyborg said as the far doors slid open again and allowed the Dati
representative to enter. The little
triped
bounced
along with an energetic stride standing only 14 inches tall, then it jumped up
to its platform/chair that rose higher on command to put it at eye level with
the Chamra.

Over the following hour the others arrived, leaving
all eight of the races with a single representative at the table containing
nine seats. Soon after the Jonstar entered the door opened again and a female
Archon walked in wearing their telltale white uniforms with an identifying
stripe down the side that Pattrel recognized as their highest rank of ViLord.

“Hello. My name is Oni-081,” she said, taking her
stool-like seat, “and I’ve been assigned command of the Trinx invasion.”

“
Has a plan of
action been developed yet?
” the cyborg asked.

“More or less. I know how I want to approach the
challenge, but I’ve only been planning using Star Force technology. What you
can provide will allow for beneficial alterations once you make me aware of
what your contributions will be.”

“
That depends on
the battle plan
.”

“I can promise you that I do not intend to lose troops
in this assault,” she said, picking up on his thoughts, partial as they were,
split between readable biological brain sections and the blank mechanical
counterparts as far as her telepathy was concerned.

“
But you cannot
guarantee it
,” the Jonstar said evenly.

“There are never any guarantees in life, let alone
battle, but I never attack a world in a way that expects losses. If this were a
defensive engagement we might not have that luxury, but since we’re going to be
going in when and where we choose, there will be no such sloppiness.”

“
What is your
general plan of attack?
” the tanky Breti asked.

“Our objective is not to kill the Trinx, but to
capture them.”

“
Capture?
”
Pattrel asked, somewhat shocked. “
That
may work against less advanced civilizations, but it will not work against the
Trinx’s
level of technology
.”

“
Not without us
taking serious losses in the effort,
” the cyborg added.

The Human shook her head. “They have only one system,
and fortified as it may be, we can take it intact if we’re patient and
persistent. The objective is to claim the system, not to do so quickly. If they
engage us heavily we pull back, try to isolate individual ships or units and
neutralize them. Once neutralized we collect and transport them out of the
system entirely to a pre-readied facility where they will accept and begin to
process the prisoners.”

“
To what end?
”
the quadruped
Domu
asked.

“If the Trinx cannot be negotiated with, then they are
too dangerous a foe to leave independent. Star Force will soon take the
surrounding territory, and not knowing if or when they might strike us creates
a problem, especially with their stealth technology. We have to remove the threat,
and aside from killing them all, the only way to do that is to capture them.”

“
And what
becomes of them after capture?
”

“We could exile them, denying them their system and
forcing them outside our territory and yours, but I do not like that option for
a number of reasons. Tactically, we couldn’t be sure that once they left they
wouldn’t be back. And if they already have a grudge against us they’d have even
more of one if we took their homeworld from them. The only way to neutralize
the threat is to destroy their civilization. Star Force doesn’t do that by
killing unless forced to, and there are so few Trinx that no matter how hard
they fight we will still be able to neutralize and take them prisoner. Call it
an added insult to their upcoming defeat. They won’t be allowed to die
defending their arrogant pride.”

“
You refer to
your extermination of the Li’vorkrachnika
,” Pattrel noted. “
You would really capture them if you could?
”

“Yes. But they kill themselves if captured anyway. We
don’t think the Trinx will. Do you concur?”

The 8 other races exchanged glances and some muffled
conversation, then the Jonstar looked at the Archon. “
We have never observed suicidal tendencies in them. They will die for a
purpose, but they do not take their own lives. I would not hold that to be
absolutely true, but we have seen nothing in our history with them to suggest
otherwise
.”

“
If we do manage
to capture them and relocate them to a prison planet, what happens to them?
”
the Bpret asked.

“The same thing we have done before. We separate the
younglings and train them in the Star Force ways. They form a new civilization
while we hold, evaluate, and train the current Trinx. If some of them change
their ways they will earn a place in the new civilization. If not, they will
remain comfortably confined until such time as they do or until they
unfortunately expire. We cannot kill stubbornness, so we will keep trying to
bring them around as long as necessary.”

“
You seek to
annex them then
,” the Sety said.

“I believe it is the best option. Mad as we are with
them, we don’t want to slaughter them.”

“
And you are
going to take it upon yourself to decide their fate?
”

“I’m open to good suggestions if you have any.”

“
My concern is
with members of their society that had no hand in the attack
.”

“They will be inconvenienced, no more. If they prove
themselves they will be free to remain in the new Trinx civilization or leave,
but to do so as individuals. The current group must be disbanded and this is a
proven method to accomplish that.”

“
This civilization
would be part of Star Force or independent?
” Pattrel asked.

“We’re not in the habit of building civilizations from
scratch then saying ‘hey, you’re on your own now.’ If we do this we take
responsibility for them. They will become a part of Star Force.”

“
Then I am
content
,” the cyborg said with finality. “
They will meet a far more beneficial fate than some of them deserve.
”

“We like to err on the side of caution,” Oni quipped.
“Punishing the innocent is unacceptable.”

“
Yet you are
doing that by inconveniencing them
,” the Sety pointed out.

“It’s a transition, not a punishment. They have to
unlearn what they have learned. Think of it as contamination that has to be
scrubbed away. They might not see it that way, but if we just take them in then
we run the risk of harboring an enemy in our midst. We will not risk that.”

“
Nor should you
,”
the Jonstar agreed. “
I too am content
with their fate and thank you for shouldering this burden. My questions now lie
with our strategy for capturing them
.”

“We will have a control ship just in case the Uriti is
released, accidentally or otherwise. We will not call it forth, but if they try
to set it loose to kill us along with them we will shut down that attempt
before it can manifest. We won’t be able to sedate it again, but we will be
able to draw it off the planet and to a holding orbit while we fight.”

“
How do you plan
on dealing with their conventional defenses?
”

Oni put a slew of holograms up in the air above the
open center of the ring that they all sat around. “From what we know, and
please speak up if I’m wrong, the Trinx have five primary weapon systems. Two
beam systems with good range, one of which delivers engine inhibiting residue.
Missile systems that can self-navigate to avoid targets while tracking others,
an area of effect damage field, and a short range orb launcher.”

“
That matches
our known inventory
,” the cyborg said. “
Though
they also have cloaking systems and a variety of countermeasures
.”

“Yes, we noted that our drone control systems were
being challenged. Fortunately our
comm
systems are
redundant enough to not have gone down.”

“
They have a
solid military structure
,” the Sety offered. “
I see no weaknesses to exploit
.”

“If there are no existing weaknesses, then you have to
create some,” Oni explained. “The biggest challenge is going to be their
planetary defense guns. We have some weaponry that can reach them beyond their
effective range, but with their shield strength and redundancies it will take a
very long time to take even one down and I fear that unless we put more
firepower into a specific location than I’m expecting to bring with us they
might have a chance to weather the storm.”

“
What weapon do
you refer to?
” the cyborg asked curious.

“A siege weapon. Power, long range, and very hard to
build. We have one that is available. If we need a second this invasion will
have to be delayed. Do any of you have something to counter those big guns
with?”

The
Domu
looked around. “
I do not think any of us possesses a weapon
that can outrange their
Yamshu
.
”

“
Our
colosat
can take them down
,” the Jonstar offered, “
but we will pay a heavy price getting in
close enough to use them
.”

“
If their
shields are fully deployed, they will destroy many of our ships before we
breach them
,” Pattrel said regretfully. “
We must infiltrate the surface before we attack
.”

“
How?
” the
Sety asked.

“
We must open up
a hole to land troops through, even if it means braving their defense fire
while we run them down to the surface. In order to do that we must sabotage
several overlapping shield generators
.”

“
But how do we
get down to the surface?
”

“
We must sneak
in
.”

“
You?
” the
cyborg asked.

Pattrel nodded. “
It
will be risky, but I can see no other viable alternative
.”

“Fortunately that’s why I’m here,” the Archon said
quietly, drawing the attention of all 8 representatives. “As I said, we have a
siege weapon that may or may not be sufficient to slowly breach a point in
their shield grid. If we do need a boost and none of your weapons have the
necessary range, we can achieve it through other means, costly as they will
be.”

“
What do you
refer to?
” the Dati asked.

“Kinetic bombardment.”

“
Clarify please
,”
the cyborg said.

“We can construct heavy masses, perhaps explosives if
needed, and run them down to the surface to stress their shields. It’s simply a
matter of figuring out how many are needed and constructing them.”

“
Won’t the Trinx
orbital defenses and fleet intercept them?
” the Sety asked. “
They have auxiliary defense shielding to
protect against a suicidal ship jump onto the surface
.”