Warrior Chronicles 4: Warrior's Wrath (8 page)

“Will you sing
Hotel Califownia?”

On a dark desert highway…

--

“H’uum, why didn’t you tell me about this sooner?” Cort asked as the H’uuman ship moved away from the Nill system and its gravity well. Once they passed the system heliosphere, they would be able to jump to the Tapon system. In the meantime, dozens of Ares ships were on their way to the system using their warp drives, and
thousands
of H’uuman ships were already waiting outside the Tapon system’s heliosphere for the arrival of General Addison. H’uum had sent them there as soon as it was known where Dalek was being held.

“I have read much of your history since the capitulation, General. It seems a long standing tradition of your species is to ask for forgiveness after the act, rather than permission before it.”

Cort laughed and said, “H’uum that’s true, but something you clearly don’t know about me personally is that I hate surprises. This time, I am going to overlook it because it seems I need more help than I expected. But I do want to know how you got past the satellite net around your planet.”

“We have always been able to circumvent it. We chose not to do so as a matter of honor.”

“And I appreciate that, but
how
did you do it?”

“I am not a scientist, Cortland, but I understand it has to do with how we transition. There is a danger to the method because we jumped from within both our planetary and solar gravity wells. A more apt inquiry would be to ask
why
I have chosen to order it at this time.”

“I know the answer to that, H’uum. At least I think I do. They killed many of your queens, but more importantly, they killed Heroc. The First Queen is a special queen to your species. My belief is that you are seeking revenge for her murder.”

“You are partly right, Cortland. Heroc was both Vagabond Queen and First Queen. Either would give her special honor according to our ways. First Queen, that is the queen who is first asserted to by a Supreme, is the most important of all the queens. She is the Lawgiver for our people. But I have violated the treaty because of Dalek, not Heroc.”

Sitting in the couch inside the HAWC suit, Cort watched H’uum through a viewer and asked, “What do you mean?”

“Do you understand what I mean by
Lawgiver
?”

“No,” Cort answered.

“Each First Queen is the interpreter and creator of our law. It is her job to interpret the laws of our species and to adjust them as she sees necessary to ensure the survival of the species. In addition to interpreting our laws, the First Queen may add one law to our Canon. For the time of ten First Queens, the Canon may not altered. In practice, very few Canon laws have been altered through the generations.”

“So it is law for at least one hundred or so of our years?”

“In times of peace, yes.”

Cort’s mind started remembering things Heroc and other H’uumans had said. “You are about to tell me that Heroc’s addition to the Canon had to do with my son, aren’t you?”

“Yes. Heroc’s Law, her addition to the Canon, is that the Empire as a whole show fealty to Dalek.”

Cort’s eyes widened. “What?” he asked.

“When Heroc finalized the treaty of capitulation, she went home and decreed her Canon law. That in itself was unusual, because most First Queens do not decree their Canon until they know their time is drawing near. Her decree was that our species be sworn to protect Dalek, the Son of War, and the spawn of his spawn.” H’uum waited for his words to sink in before continuing. “So you see, Cortland, if you were to forbid us from leaving our planet to help you, we would still do so. Even if it meant our extinction at your hands. For we as a species, from the youngest spawn, to myself as the ruler of our empire, are sworn to lay down our lives to protect your son and his line for at least ten generations.”

Cort was speechless. He remembered the end of the Cuplan war, when Heroc refused to turn over the crystal technology, she had asked him to accept her refusal ‘for Dalek’s sake’. Out of trust and love for Heroc personally, he had reluctantly agreed. Now he knew why.
You loved him as much as Kim and I do, didn’t you, Heroc? You made sure he would be as safe as you could make him. You gave him your entire species to act as his bodyguards.

When he could finally speak without fear of his voice betraying his emotion, Cort said, “Thank you, H’uum. When this is over, regardless of the outcome, your people are no longer bound by the requirements of the peace treaty. You are our equals, and so long as your Canon retains Heroc’s Law, you are our allies and friends.”

“Thank you, Cortland, but what about the Collaborative Government? They will never agree to this.”

“Other than Bazal, I don’t see any of the Collaboration here. On the other hand, you have sent millions of your species to fight for my son. So to hell with the Collaboration. Now if you'll excuse me, I am going to tell my wife about this and then I have to make sure that Dar Sike knows my wishes. Thank you, my friend.”

--

The HAWC was squatting inside the shuttle of the
Kalashnikov
and Kim was standing on its heel looking into the hatchway in its lower back. Cort had the couch he was strapped to rotated so he could look at her. He said, “I can’t bind them with a treaty they might be forced to break again for Dalek’s sake. I was planning on relaxing the requirements somewhat anyway. But now it’s pretty pointless, considering that Heroc’s Law is more binding than the treaty is.”

Kim looked up at him and said, “I’m having a hard time grasping it. What is the phrase you always use?
I can’t wrap my head around it?
That’s it. I cannot wrap my head around this. If we had only known, Dalek would still be with us.”

That’s not true. The attack is unrelated to Heroc. It’s something personal between the Tapon and the Nill. We just got caught in the middle, Kim. But I agree, I would like to have known. And when this is over, I am using H’uumans as security details for you and Dalek.”

“A month ago, I would have argued with you about even having security details, but not now.”

“H’uum told me that Heroc herself killed a hundred of the Tapons. Zandra killed twenty more before their poison overcame her. All told, there were over a ten thousand H’uumans lost and they killed five thousand of the Tapons. And now the monkeys have two entire species coming for them. Three if you count Bazal.”

“What did they call Dalek again?” Kim asked.

“Dalek, Son of War,” Cort replied.

Cort was glad that Kim could smile when she said, “Son of War. I wonder if they meant you or me?”

Cort smiled himself and said, “I’m proud of you Kim. Most mothers would be hysterical right now. I had to ask Bazal if he was calming you.”

“No, and I have asked him not to. I want him to devote his full attention to Dalek.”

“That’s what he told me. And that makes how calm you are ever more impressive.”

“That he is constantly talking to his
Little Warrior
helps a lot, but I’m married to
War
, baby. I wasn’t nervous an hour ago, and now I know there are millions more looking out for our son who are just as invested in this as we are.”

A series of clicks came over the ship’s speakers. “Attention. Ares Federation humans, please prepare to enter jump space. You have five minutes.”

Kim climbed higher and into the hatch to give Cort a kiss. “I’ll see you on the other side, baby.”

When she left, Cort sent a message to Dar, updating him on the situation and dictating his orders regarding the H’uumans, making it clear that regardless of the fight’s outcome, they were to be treated as allies moving forward, even at the expense of alienating the Collaboration.

--

After the jump, Kim went back to see Cort and she took a medic with her. She hadn’t wanted to tell him before the jump, but Cort looked horrible. Worse than that, he
smelled
bad. He protested the doctor pulling his medical stats from the suit, but Kim’s presence kept him in line. After going over the data, the doctor told them it was bad. She said to Kim, “His synthetics can’t keep up with the infection, and we can’t get enough fresh ones into him while he is in armor.”

“You just have to get me through another day or two, Doc.”

“You aren’t going to make it that long, sir. I recommend you sit this one out.”

“Not on your life, Doctor. We are talking about my son, and I am going to get him.”

“General, I have heard the rumors. It is my understanding that there are millions of armed men and women out there, from two different empires, who are going to get your boy. One more man, even
you
, won’t make a difference. With the radiation hit you just took during the jump, if you go down there, you won’t see your son again anyway. You are dying, sir.”

“And if I stay?”

“Then I can keep you alive, and with time, you will probably get better. But I have to get you out of this suit and into a medical bed. And you will be going home the long way, because even a small additional dose of radiation could be fatal.”

Kim climbed up to the suit’s combat couch and unplugged the Atlas interface. Before Cort could protest, she said, “Doctor, get to work on him. He’s not going down to the planet.” Turning to Cort, she said, “Not one word. We have enough people here without you.”

“Bazal promised him I was coming to get him,” Cort said. The emotional pain in his words was clear.

“Don’t worry, baby. You are still his hero, and you always will be.”

As a team arrived with a gurney, Cort said, “Bring Lex to me.”

--

In the medbay, Lex said, “You asked to see me, sir?”

“I’m sure you have heard that I’ve been grounded.”

“Yes, sir. It is my understanding that it is the right thing though. Your son needs you.”

“Yeah, but that means your battle plan has to change. Without the HAWC, it will be a purely infantry action. Move the wolfpacks to your flanks and execute
Sparta 1.
Then…”

Lex interrupted, saying, “Sir. I know how to fight. And your plan doesn’t include the H’uumans. My new one does.”

“You’re right. I forgot about them. I’m sorry. This is your fight, now. But keep something in mind. Bazal will be influencing the ones who are guarding Dalek. They probably won’t fight much. And we can come back and kill these fuckers anytime. Getting Dalek is the number one priority.” Cort’s voice was raspy. “I need to address the Marines and the H’uumans.”

“I’ll do it, baby,” Kim said.

“Yeah, I guess you are the best one to say what needs to be said. Tell them about Heroc’s Law. The Marines need to know how deep the alliance is between us now,” Cort said as he began to fade out. Turning to the doctor he said, “Can’t you at least keep me awake?”

Looking between the General and Kim, the man relented. “I can do that, General. But do not get too agitated. Your health is more important than you being able to watch the fight.”

“Sir,” Lex said. “Captain Munroe wants to see you. Should I delay her?”

“No. She knows the game. She wouldn’t be asking if it wasn’t important. Bring her in.”

A few minutes later, Jane Munroe entered the makeshift infirmary and saluted. Kim, Lex and the doctors stared at her until she started to speak. “General, we need the HAWC. A million warriors or not, it is a symbol to both us and the H’uumans.”

“Get out, Captain!” Kim yelled as she pushed the captain backward. “I will not kill my husband just to give you a fucking flag to rally around!”

Munroe held her hands up and said, “No, Ma’am. That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what the hell
did
you mean, Captain?” Lex demanded.

Munroe turned around and pulled down the collar of her FALCON to expose her neck. After parting the shoulder length hair, a small port came into view.

“What the hell?” Cort asked.

Turning back around, Jane dropped her hair and said, “It doesn’t make sense to only have one person in the entire federation who can utilize the suit, sir. When I was growing my legs back, I had the Atlas interface implanted as well.”

“There is a huge learning curve in wearing that suit, Captain. You should have told me sooner so you could have been training in it. Had you done so, we would be in a much better position.”

Munroe held up her hand and said, “Sir, I trained for several hours a day while I was recovering. I have over thirteen-hundred hours in a sim that is based on the HAWC.”

“Where is there a sim for the HAWC?” Cort asked.

Finally understanding, Kim said, “It’s in every game system in the federation. The family trust released it as a video game.”

“And I hacked my system to add the military version of the software,” Munroe added.

“Which you still had access to because you never signed your separation papers,” Cort said, surrendering.

“Well that would have been stupid, General.” Jane smiled and said, “So how about I jack in and run through the power-up cycle. Then you can decide.”