Star Viking (Extinction Wars Book 3) (15 page)

“You are tedious, Commander Creed. I prefer your companion, N7.”

“That doesn’t surprise me,” I said.

“Your inflection,” Holgotha said. “You mean to imply…a joke with that comment, do you not?”

“Maybe,” I said.

“Explain your humor.”

“N7 is a machine. You’re a machine.”

For a time, Holgotha said nothing.

“You may have insulted him,” N7 whispered. The android had quietly moved up behind me.

“That is impossible,” Holgotha said. “I have passed far beyond threats from such as you.”

I filed it away that Holgotha viewed insults as threats. Was that a glitch in his communication program or something more troublesome?

“If you’re far beyond insults,” I asked, “why did you just stop talking a moment ago?”

“I am busy in my analysis,” Holgotha said. “This conversation is a waste of time.”

He seemed to be speaking like a machine, with conversational limitations. I realized we knew precious little about Holgotha or any of the other artifacts.

“I’m afraid it could get much worse for you,” I told the machine.

“Explain your statement.”

I told Holgotha about the Purple Tamika armada talking nine of our warships, leaving us defenseless.

“I fail to perceive why any of that matters to me,” the artifact said.

“There are several problems,” I said. “And they’re interconnected. Before I can explain them, I have to know why you fled the Altair star system eight years ago.”

“Fled implies fear,” Holgotha said. “I lack the sensation.”

“You don’t have emotions?”

“Do I sensate like a biological creature?” Holgotha asked. “In no way is that accurate. I have sensation centers that compel me in one direction or another. To forestall another spate of simian questions, I will inform you that my present perception is one of curiosity.”

“Concerning the Creator?” I asked.

“Among other factors, yes,” Holgotha said.

“And these curiosities are no doubt tied in with Abaddon and his Kargs.”

“That is incorrect.”

“Oh.” Did that mean my dream about Abaddon meant nothing? Would Holgotha automatically know if the Kargs had invaded our space-time continuum?

“Uh,” I said, “I still don’t understand why you left the Altair star system as the assault troopers and Starkiens closed in upon you.”

“Your implication is that I feared either species in some manner. To halt your chatter, I will inform you that I deplore Starkiens.”

“Do you have a reason?” I asked.

“It would be a non-sequitur if I did not.”

“What is the reason?” I said, “If you don’t mind me asking?”

The wall that had vibrated grew still. Finally, Holgotha spoke once more. “The Starkiens failed in a sacred charge. Namely, an artifact in their possession perished.”

“What happened?” I asked.

“Just like humans,” Holgotha said, “Starkiens have simian inquisitiveness. They swarmed their object, testing, probing and questioning it. Finally, they tore into the subroutines and processing centers, attempting to understand Forerunner technology. In their quest, they destroyed what they did not understand. A machine of the ages perished while in their possession. A stellar-wide alarm pierced each of us. We understood. We altered our defenses, and we made the other races aware of the sacrilege. Since that moment, the Starkiens have become outcasts to the noble races. The others scoured Starkien planets, turning them into smoking cinders. The last of the artifact-destroyers took to the stars in their ships, a wandering remnant of those who would profane the works of the First Ones.”

“You have a pretty high opinion of yourself, don’t you?” I asked.

Holgotha said nothing.

“Perhaps we should leave, Commander,” N7 said.

“I second the suggestion,” Holgotha said. “Leave before I eject you.”

“Wait a minute,” I said. “No one here suggests we’re going to try to probe you. One of the reasons I’m here is to tell you that the Starkiens made a play for you in our solar system. You do realize that, don’t you?”

“Of course I am aware,” Holgotha said. “The Orange Tamika Lokhar handled the situation in a salutary fashion.”

“Doctor Sant has left the solar system, stirring up rebellion in the Lokhar Empire. I’m wondering if a religious crusade has started in the Jade League.”

“War brews everywhere,” Holgotha said. “That is one of the signs of an approaching apocalypse.”

That was ominous sounding.
Concentrate on the issue, Creed. Don’t let the artifact sidetrack you with rabbit holes
. Right, I had to be like a pit bull, refusing to release my grip. Even so, the topic intrigued me enough to say:

“World War II didn’t bring the end of Earth,” I said.

“Your allusion escapes me,” Holgotha said.

“Just because everyone goes mad with battle fury, doesn’t mean God is going to show up and end existence. It means everyone has lost his cool. Now the blood is going to flow.”

“One of these times, it does mean the Creator will approach to judge existence,” Holgotha said. “That is one reason the Forerunners constructed us.”

“You really believe that?” I asked.

“I have no habit of lying, no programs to guide me in the dark art. I leave that to your kind, Commander Creed.”

The artifact’s insult helped clear my thoughts. I noticed the spicy scent had departed the room. In its place, I detected a faint body odor, my own leaking up from my suit. I sweated hard inside.

First clearing my throat, I said, “My point is the Starkiens came to the solar system. They might have wiped us out before swarming onto you.”

“I will not let Starkiens swarm me,” Holgotha said. I noticed his voice deepened as he spoke the words.

“You’d kill them?” I asked.

“That is not my way. No. I would depart.”

“But only after they wiped out humanity?” I asked.

“Why would that make any difference to me?”

“Don’t you care if humanity is wiped out?”

“No,” Holgotha said. “Many species have perished throughout the millennia. It is one of the natural processes of existence.”

I jumped up and began to pace within the small chamber. To give me room, N7 backed against a wall.

“Look!” I said. “Let’s make this mutual. You help us, and we’ll help you.”

“How can you possibly help me?” Holgotha asked.

“The lion shouldn’t mock the mouse.”

“Explain your reference.”

I stopped in front of the vibrating wall. “A man named Aesop once told this old tale. A lion walked through the forest and happened to step on a mouse. The lion looked down, and opened its jaw to devour the tiny beast. The mouse squeaked, ‘Have mercy on me, O King. In time, I will return you a favor.’ The lion laughed. ‘What can a little mouse do for me?’ ‘Some day,’ the mouse squeaked. ‘You will find out.’ On a whim, the lion lifted its paw and watched the mouse scamper away.

“In the course of time,” I said, “the lion became ensnarled in a net. The king of beasts thrashed and struggled, all to no avail. As the moon rose and the lion waited for the hunter to come and kill him, a tiny mouse ran along the rope. ‘I have come as I said I would,’ the mouse told the lion. ‘You once showed mercy to me. Now, I will help you.’ As the lion watched, the little mouse gnawed the rope. Before dawn appeared, the last rope fell away, and the lion shook himself free. He thanked the mouse, glad he’d shown mercy when he’d had the chance.”

“The tale is supposed to stir me?” Holgotha asked.

“It should cause you to reflect,” I said. “In helping us survive, we might in some manner aid you in a time of need. How that would occur, I have no idea. As an extra benefit, if you aid us, you would also get to observe a desperate species taking on the entire galaxy.”

“Do not strain my computational innocence,” Holgotha said. “You are too few to take on anyone.”

“There you’re wrong,” I said. “If you provide the motive power, we’ll show you a spectacle such as none of you artifacts has ever witnessed.”

“This is vain boasting,” Holgotha said.

“You claim to have curiosity circuits,” I said. “In all your varied existence, don’t you long for something new to see?”

“There is nothing new under the stars,” Holgotha told me, as if he spoke a maxim.

“Have you ever spoken to someone like me?” I asked.

Holgotha said nothing. Time lengthened. Finally, the artifact said, “There was one like you long ago. It was during the last days of the First Ones, just before their disappearance. His rashness changed the complexity of the galaxy, causing the terrible loss of the Forerunners. We wondered if the Creator would appear to rectify the situation. During the next few centuries, we realized he had caused irreparable harm. Yes, I remember. He died brutally. Few mourned his passing. As I consider you, and given regular probabilities, you should have already died a vulgar death.”

“I lead a charmed life,” I said. “I’m difficult to kill.”

“I fail to see why that should be.”

“And yet, I’m here,” I said. “Stick that in your pipe and smoke it.”

From the far wall, N7 attempted to gain my attention. I ignored the android.

“You have aroused a modicum of interest,” Holgotha told me. “What is your plan?”

“I want to use you as a mobile platform,” I said, promptly. “You’ll appear inside a planet’s atmosphere. From you, the assault troopers will launch their attack. If things go badly for us, you can simply transfer back to the solar system.”

“What is this spectacle I’m supposed to see?” Holgotha asked.

“A daring Star Viking raid,” I said.

“What is that?”

“Agree to this and see,” I said. “You won’t regret it.”

Holgotha fell silent, no doubt computing. Finally, the artifact said, “I see no benefit for myself. Worse, this will interrupt my investigation. Now, you must leave. I have grown weary of your incessant chatter.”

“Wait a minute,” I said, casting about for an angle. “You said there was one like me long ago. He changed many things, including the disappearance of the First Ones. Maybe I’ll also change many things, but this time it will be for the better.”

“I find that doubtful.”

“The evidence says you’re wrong.”

“Explain this,” Holgotha said.

“We humans were instrumental at the portal planet. Our actions halted Abaddon’s invasion, which would have been a monumental event in the galaxy.”

“This is startling to me,” Holgotha said. “There is truth to what you say.”

“Maybe humanity is the component the Forerunner artifacts need to shake things up. That shaking will bring about the appearance of the Creator.”

“You spout sheer sophistry,” Holgotha said. “It is time for you to depart.”

“Wait,” I said. “Let me finish. Nothing else has worked for you artifacts, right? I’m suggesting you try something new. I bet you’ve never been part of an assault before.”

“That is true,” Holgotha said. “I have not.”

“For this trial run, you’ll play the part of a military machine. Look, we Earthers have hit rock bottom. My envisioned raid will give us the tools we need to stand up again. Consider what happened last time we had the means. I’m speaking about our assault at the portal planet. We kicked ass. You do realize that the Lokhars fear us, right? Why otherwise did they strip us of our latest weaponry? The Jelk fear us. Abaddon and his Kargs rue our existence. If we only had the means—which this single raid will give us—there is nothing we might not accomplish.”

I was stretching big time. But a sales pitch should be over the top. We needed this. Without a rich raid, I couldn’t see how we’d build up in time to face the return of Baba Gobo, for instance. Never mind what else was coming our way.

“Yours is an interesting proposal,” Holgotha said in what seemed to be a grudging manner. “There is a unique aspect to your puny race. I am curious to see what your rash mind has conceived. It is fitting that I warn you, though. If I am destroyed, your race will be blotted from existence. You are aware of that, yes?”

“I’m willing to roll the dice. Are you willing to try something new?”

“I am intrigued enough for a single venture,” Holgotha said. “Afterward, I may well depart to a place far from you inquisitive humans. I find you to be an annoying race.”

I don’t know who was more surprised at my success, N7 or me. We had a shot, and we had to make it count. That meant we’d better pick the right target. After that, we’d unleash ourselves against the galaxy.

“Okay,” I said. “You won’t regret this.” Turning to N7, I said, “Let’s go. We have a lot to do to get ready.”

With Holgotha’s provisional acceptance to try the plan, we no longer had to worry about slinking through the jump lanes in our lone vessel. We would move directly to target. That meant we could leave the cruiser in the solar system if we wanted. It was time to decide what and how to do this exactly.

“I suggest we use every trooper we have for the raid,” I told the others.

We stood in the conference room on Mars Base. A huge window showed the interior dome outside the chamber. Assault troopers jogged by in their zaguns across an asphalt running track.

Rollo, Dmitri, Ella, N7 and I debated policy. We had drinks in our hands. Rollo sipped beer, Dmitri and Ella wine, while N7 held a bubbling mixture only an android could love. I cradled a shot glass with a splash of whiskey at the bottom.

“I figure it like this,” I said, setting the glass on the table. “We have to maximize the strike. Likely, it’s the only one where we’ll have the artifact. Therefore, we should take every assault trooper, grab a horde of ships and rush back with them to Earth. Then we can think about our next target.”

“Shouldn’t we leave a few assault troopers behind to garrison Mars Base and our equipment on Ceres?” asked Ella.

Before I could answer, Dmitri said, “Since the artifact is our transport, it seems senseless to fortify Ceres. There’s nothing to guard out there anymore, at least while we’re gone.”

“Good point,” I said. “Where should we fortify?”

“The only place that matters,” Rollo said, “Earth. And that means the Moon. Take all the hardware at Ceres and set it up there. Let the Earth Council decide who runs it.”

“Do the rest of you agree?” I asked.

The others nodded or murmured their assent.

“Okay,” I said, “next order of business. What do we do with the
Glorious Hope
? Do we take it with us or leave it behind for the Earth Council.”

“Better to take it with us,” Dmitri said.

“Depends on where we’re hitting,” Rollo said.

“If we perish,” Ella said, “wouldn’t it be better for humanity to have at least one warship with its Moon fortress?”

“I’m inclined to agree with Ella,” I said. “What do you think, N7?”

“What happens to the androids in storage?” N7 asked. “The ones we took from the Demar Starcity.”

That was a good question. We hashed it out and decided to unpack them. They would help fortify the Moon.

We decided to hold off on making a decision about the cruiser. First, we’d have to know the target. That was going to take some thinking. Before that, we had to ready the solar system for our absence.

Work revved up after the meeting. We hauled the defensive equipment from Ceres to the Moon. Then we dismantled parts from Mars Base. During our absence, humanity would porcupine around the mother planet. It was poisoned, but it was still home.

I spoke to Diana and Murad Bey. With our coming absence, their power would increase, but so would their vulnerability. They asked questions. I supplied few answers. I wondered if the Shi-Feng had sleepers among the last survivors in the freighters.

Finally, we had to decide on the target. I secreted myself with N7, deciding to thrash it with the only person who knew more than I did about the region of space around us.

N7 had begun existence as a Jelk mining android. When the assault troopers had been under Shah Claath’s employ, the Rumpelstiltskin devil had used androids as our drill instructors. Because of that, the Nseries androids gained upgrades. N7 had proven better and more successful than his fellow machines, and he had consistently won more improvements. During the Sigma Draconis campaign, N7 decided to cast his lot with us. He helped us gain our freedom as we attacked Claath’s battlejumper.

N7’s memory cores never forgot anything. Even better, he could retrieve the memories. He did so now as we stood on
Glorious Hope’s
bridge.

“You ask me where we should attack,” N7 said. “That depends on your requirements.”

“That’s simple,” I said. “I want warships, better light arms for assault troopers, haulers to carry it back, anti-bio-terminator scrubbers and better planetary missile and ground-based beam systems.”

“One requirement makes the choice obvious at least in one regard,” N7 said.

“What would that be?” I asked.

“For anti-bio-terminator scrubbers, you will have to attack a Lokhar world. The Saurians lack such hardware, at least in any abundance.”

“So be it,” I said.

N7 observed me. “You do not mind declaring war against the Lokhars?”

“Who said anything about that? I just want to grab what I need. There’s no declaration of war.”

“The Lokhars might view it differently.”

“I’m thinking they have enough on their hands with a civil war brewing. Besides, how will they know it’s been us? If we strike deeply enough, they’ll absolutely
know
it couldn’t have been us humans who struck.”

N7 appeared dubious. “Eventually, the other races will learn that an artifact aided humanity.”

“I don’t see why that’s a given. We’ll have to take great care after the assault. During the Vietnam War, the NVA soldiers usually dragged away their dead after a firefight. It made it seem as if the U.S. seldom slew that many. We’ll expand upon the idea.”

N7 become thoughtful. “That would imply you don’t plan to leave any survivors to report on our attack.”

That was a good point. I mulled it over, finally saying, “The Lokhars nuked the Earth and sprayed the survivors with a bio-terminator. They started this. They can pay for it. I have no problem grabbing what we need from a Lokhar world and ensuring no tigers survive the attack. In fact, the more I think about it, the better I like it.”

I was also thinking about the Shi-Feng. They would be out there.

“Emotions are not the best guide in these matters,” N7 told me.

“You’re wrong,” I said. “The heart is everything. Without it, logic means nothing. You have to
want
something in order to fight for it and that desire comes from in here,” I said, tapping my chest.

“Perhaps you are right. In this area, I will not dispute you.”

“Great,” I said. “Given our requirements, do you know which system we should raid?”

N7 turned toward the viewing port. In its reflection, I saw the android’s eyelids fluttering. At last, N7 turned back to me.

“The Sanakaht star system seems ideal for your needs,” N7 said. “It possesses a small world with vast abundance. There are many mineral asteroids in the system and heavy metal moons. Sanakaht the planet is so small that many freighters land to load and unload cargo. My cores tell of surface shipyards building warships that would otherwise be constructed in space.”

“Tell me more,” I said.

N7 did.

Afterward, I pondered the information. I needed a situation where I could employ the bio-suited assault troopers. I thought hard, finding difficulties in the location. Holgotha couldn’t very well teleport onto the ground. The artifact would have to appear in the atmosphere. Getting everyone off the giant donut would be the problem. The assault troopers would have to jump, maybe use parachutes, parasails or—

I snapped my fingers and pointed at N7. “I have it. I know how we’re going to this.” I laughed as I envisioned the attack. It would be wild, wooly and maybe the most exhilarating ride of my life.

“What is your idea?” N7 asked.

“Do you remember the air-cycles we carted from the Demar Starcity?”

N7 froze a moment, before nodding. “Of course I recall. They are the DZ9 air-mobile attack cycle. The originator—”

“Yeah,” I said. “I don’t need those kinds of details. Tell me what they can do.”

“I am not familiar with them in that aspect.”

“Then it’s time to become familiar. We’ll test them on Mars.”

“How many cycles will we use” N7 asked.

“All of them,” I said.

“All?”

“Yeah. That’s right.”

***

Before I unpacked all the air-cycles, I took several to Mars. A few trial runs showed a problem. After several passes, the fine sands of the Red Planet clogged the air-intakes. This wasn’t a desert flyer.

Even so, the DZ9 air-mobile cycle was an interesting vehicle. The closest equivalent Earth craft would have been a bulked-up jet ski that was able to fly through the skies.

Taking several to Earth, I did some trial runs. They flew well enough. The trouble was scrubbing everyone afterward. Finally, I took a few air-cycles out to Titan with its molecular nitrogen atmosphere. That proved the right decision.

N7 said Titan was closer in size to our targeted world than any other planetary body in the solar system. That was good to learn, as it would solve the biggest problem: how to get four thousand assault troopers down to the surface in a hurry.

The air-cycles were big enough so troopers could double up on one. On Titan, we practiced dropping from a Demar hauler. With two troopers, their suits and equipment, that meant squeezing onto the seat. It also meant more than normal weight. With Titan’s thin atmosphere, the loaded air-cycles dropped fast.

We lost seventeen of them to crashes. Five troopers died. I hated that. For two weeks, we practiced so we could get it right against the Lokhars.

Four mingans of assault troopers were going to hit Sanakaht. Likely, that was too few. The small planet boasted big shipyards. That would mean protection, right?

“We don’t have a choice in this,” I said, bringing up a tough subject. “We’re going to have to deploy missiles from the artifact. We need to take out the areas too far to hit with our troopers.”

“If you do that,” N7 said, “you’re risking return fire.”

“I realize that.”

“What kind of warheads will we use?” Rollo asked.

Here it was: the tough choice. “Thermonuclear,” I said.

Silence reigned. Ella grew pale. “Creed—”

“Stow your complaints,” I said. “We have to use nukes. We’re too weak to play fancy.” I stared into their eyes. “Look, people, this is the big strike. We have to win huge this time. If we don’t, it could be over for our race.”

“The Lokhars will retaliate against us,” Ella said.

I snorted. “This is our retaliation for what they did to Earth.”

“The tiger Emperor has helped us since then,” Ella said.

“Has he really?” I asked. “Who do you think sanctioned the Shi-Feng attack in Wyoming?”

“All indications show they are a holy order,” Ella said.

“Holy my ass,” I said. “They’re assassins. I bet they’re tight with the Emperor. Besides, he reneged on his deal and took away our warships.” I pounded the table with a fist. “You’d better believe we’re going to use thermonuclear weapons. We’re smashing Sanakaht flat and taking its goodies.”

“Is that how old-time Vikings did it?” Dmitri asked.

“We’re Star Vikings, Earth’s last hope. Not only do we have to win, but we’d better do it so they don’t know who hit them. That means we flatten their planetary defenses, strike, grab, get back up to the artifact and disappear before the space assets arrive.”

“That isn’t going to give us much time,” Ella said.

“No, it isn’t,” I agreed.

“I’m not sure this is the best idea,” Ella said. “Perhaps we should strike another Saurian-guarded star system.”

I stood up and walked to the viewing screen. With the click of a switch, I turned it to Olympus
Mons.
Fiddling with the controls, I scanned up to the top cone.

“The Lokhars put their flag up there,” I said. “That’s claiming territory.”

“It may have a different purpose in Lokhar culture,” N7 said.

“I’m guessing you’re wrong about that,” I said. “My point is that they came to our star system and planted their flag on our biggest mountain. Was that a Freudian slip?”

“What does that mean?” N7 asked.

I ignored the android’s question. Turning to the others, I said, “Look at this another way. Doctor Sant has gone on a walking tour, spouting religious rebellion. It’s frightened the Purple Tamika Emperor. He’s gathered an armada, maybe to squash the rebellion. Our strike way out at Sanakaht might aid Orange Tamika, and that could possibly aid us in the long run.”

“How do you reason this?” N7 asked.

“If we do this right,” I said, “Sant might point to Sanakaht as the judgment of the Creator. Let’s suppose a few tigers survive. They’ll talk about an artifact appearing. The Lokhars are crazy concerning the Forerunner objects. Many tigers swayed by Sant might view the attack as just deserts for the sins caused by the Purple Tamika Emperor.”

“That’s silly,” Ella said, “and it’s really reaching.”

“No,” Rollo said. “I think Creed has a point. You don’t see that, Ella, because it doesn’t mix with your world-view. The way a tiger looks at the universe, yes, the attack might help Sant’s theological rebellion.”

“If Lokhars survive on Sanakaht and report on an artifact,” N7 said, “that might give away our involvement. Surely, the others would consider us the primary culprits.”