Star Force: Bahamut (SF86) (Star Force Origin Series) (4 page)

“
That option was
discussed, but before we had the industrial muscle to make such a move the
Li’vorkrachnika became a problem and we needed every asset we had on the
homeworld just to survive you.
”

“
Once you finish
conquering this half of our territory, you will begin to move your people away?
”

“
No, we won’t
.”

“
Why stay?
”

“
You tell me
.”

“
You won’t
abandon the races you’ve annexed into your empire. You’ve taken responsibility
for a large number of star systems and you won’t relinquish it for fear of what
would happen to them if you did. But why not evacuate them all with you?
”

“
If the
V’kit’no’sat learn of our existence, they will not stop hunting us until we are
found and destroyed, no matter where we go. We could hide, we’re smart enough
to do that, but we would lose so much of our powerbase in such a transition
that it would put our efforts to upgrade our empire so far behind that we would
lose too much. If the V’kit’no’sat come back tomorrow that logic will seem
stupid, but we’ve been operating under it since day 1. We don’t know when or if
they’ll find us, and we’re using all the time we have to try and grow strong
enough to survive them
.”

“
But you cannot?
”

“
We have
fallback plans, but if it comes to that, we will not go quietly
.”

“
How long have
they been absent?
”

“
Oddly, it was
right at 100 millennia when we discovered our true history. Add another one on
since then
.”

The mastermind grew more serious. “
This is a very old empire then. Why do you
think they have not returned in such a span of time?
”

“
We don’t know
how badly the rebellion hurt them…but there is another matter. What the
V’kit’no’sat was originally formed for. There are massive creatures that inhabit
the deep core known as Hadarak. They are themselves warships and prefer to live
within deep gravity wells. They are a plague on the galaxy and continually push
outward to devour worlds…not whole, but they do massive damage. The
V’kit’no’sat were created to oppose them and hold them back within a
containment line. They never figured out how to destroy them within the gravity
wells, so all they can do is fight and kill those that come too far out, and it
is a task they have never shied from. That duty, along with the outcome of the
rebellion, is probably why they have not pushed the boundaries of their empire
back to their heights
.”

“
Do you know
where their border is now?
”

“
The other side
of Skarron territory
.”

“
Far from your
homeworld then
.”

“
Thankfully, yes
.”

“
For my entire
life I have thought we were superior. I knew there were races beyond us, but it
was assumed that given enough time we would achieve their level of technology
and surpass it. Even before then we would be able to overcome them with numbers
and tactics. And now you tell me that we have been fools this entire time? We
are not dominant…we are not even relevant?
”

“
No, you’re not.
And even Star Force’s technology level wouldn’t draw their attention if it
weren’t for our death mark
.”

“
How many more
years do you require before you can attain what they had in their past?
”

“
It’s been
uncertain from the beginning. We relearn some aspects quicker than others. A
few hundred years, perhaps another millennia
.”

“
And then it
will still not be a fair fight?
”

“
We have no way
of knowing how much further they have advanced, but even if they did not, they
have numbers that we cannot contend with
.”

“
Some of which
much contain these beasts?
”

“
Some, but they
would have no trouble rousing enough to overwhelm us
.”

“
If they knew
your strength. If they underestimated it, they would send too few and you would
stand a chance of a short victory. Over time they would send more, then you
would be in an untenable position. Evacuation prior to their discovery of you
is your only long term solution
.”

“
That’s what the
reality of the situation is
.”

“
And yet you
stay
.”

“
The only way we
can best them is to best them
,” Paul said dubiously. “
Not with numbers, but with quality. We have to be better than them, and
we’re not going to get better by hiding out and running. As you well know, war
experience is extremely valuable. Theoretical simulations can only take you so
far
.”

“
And?
”

“
Doing the right
thing can’t be postponed. There are people here, now, who need our help. We
won’t sacrifice them in the short term to extend the long term concerns. If we
are to die, we will die with honor as protectors…not fleeing survivors who
would abandon others to grim fates to preserve ourselves.
”

“
Your affinity
for death over dishonor is the same as our own, except ours seems to have been
twisted.
”

“
And yet you are
untwisting it
.”

“
With your
considerable assistance
.”

“
You needed a
nudge. But only you could decide to think and not slit your throat as all the
others have done or would do
.”

“
I tried, but you
took my claws
.”

“
And after you
grew them back?
”

“
By then I had
time to think
.”

“
And what are
you thinking now with regards to your honor?
”

“
It has been
vested in following the orders of the templars, but it has always been to our
civilization. The templars are the embodiment of it. Through them we grow,
defend ourselves, and bring order to a chaotic galaxy.
”

“
By killing all
of the people in it?
”

“
I would blame
the blocks, but in truth I should have seen the futility of that long ago
.”

“
That’s what the
blocks are there to do…keep you from seeing things
.”

“
We are meant to
be protectors. I can feel it now. As you said, untwisting that which was in us
all along. We are meant to fight. To fight for a purpose
.”

“
And the
templars?
”

“
The more I
learn the more I believe they have deliberately corrupted that purpose to their
own gains, so much so that I do not know what it is. It is there, though, just
outside the reach of my mind. Your honor runs parallel to it
.”

“
And combat
clarifies it?
”

“
Without full
understanding, yes, it seems to
.”

Paul closed his eyes for a moment, still mentally
holding in check the other lizards around them. “
Then observe the true enemy and tell me what your hidden purpose drives
you to do
.”

Suddenly there was a flood of images and knowledge pouring
into the mastermind’s thoughts. They didn’t stop coming, more and more until he
lost track of the time as his superior intellect rapidly soaked them up as he
came to see the V’kit’no’sat for what they truly were, race for race, battle
after battle.

The Hadarak, the Zen’zat, the
Zak’de’ron
who they overthrew. Millennia after millennia holding the deep core border and
expanding their empire outward. The arrogance, the superiority, the unflinching
loyalty…and the horrors they enacted to subsidize it all. Sometimes they were
in the right, taking down enemies that deserved to be destroyed, but many times
they were not, simply doing what they wanted to do and treating the galaxy and
all in it as their birthright.

And yet even they had a nemesis they could not
overcome. The Hadarak vexed them, but rather than simply hold the line for
perpetuity they continually sought ways to strike at them, failing time and
again, but their ego would not let them admit inferiority.

They had to be superior.

They were superior.

And anything that suggested otherwise had to be
annihilated.

No matter the cost.

The mastermind took a step backward when the massive
mental download ended, his mind still trying to process it all as Paul just
stood there giving him time to work through it. One of his large hands rose to
his face and he touched his claws to his forehead as he thought quickly and
cleanly, all doubt having been erased from his mind. He might not fully
understand himself, let alone the templars, but the existence of the V’kit’no’sat
made it all nearly irrelevant. They were an unbeatable foe…and one that
had
to be challenged.

He eventually dropped his hand and looked directly at
Paul as possible strategies to employ against them failed humorously. There was
no way to beat them. That was clear enough. And ironically, it didn’t matter to
him in the slightest.

“
What would you
have your Thrawn do?
”

4

April 3, 3254

Solar System

Earth

Davis didn’t get the priority update until he got out
of the shower after his morning workout session, finding the small red
holographic icon floating over his computer terminal in his quarters that he
rarely used. Normally he’d wait until he got to his office, but it was times
like these that made him glad he had the access handy.

He sat down and pulled up the alert, finding the
report from the scouting mission to an unnamed system in lizard territory. The
lizards were there, along with a lot of other races, including the Sety…and
their scout ship had been fired upon, and
not
by the lizards.

He picked up his earpiece from the desktop and opened
a line to his staff with a simple preset mental command. “Get the Sety
ambassador down here immediately, personal conference, I want him face to face.
Don’t tell him why.”

Davis pounded his fist on his desktop in frustration.
The Ma’kri hadn’t been damaged, but at the same time as The Nexus had its
delegation here negotiating with him another part of their fleet was firing on
one of his ships. He didn’t know who these other races were, and it wasn’t a
Sety ship that had fired upon them, but they’d been chasing as well and didn’t
get into firing range only because the Ma’kri had managed to slip away from the
planet in time. Regardless, they were working with whoever had fired those
shots, not to mention the lizards…which drew into question the lack of action
on the H’kar front, and if they had some arrangement with them all along.

These bastards had been here for two months, hounding
him with matter after matter and him putting them on hold for a few days at a
time here and there so he could get other work done. Part of the negotiations
were worthwhile, but a lot of it seemed like little more than blustering as the
various races within The Nexus sought and offered information as well as trade
deals, technology overtures that Davis had almost entirely struck down before
they’d uttered the words, and a lot of political maneuvering within The Nexus
that he wasn’t going to facilitate.

The
Daegon
and the
Maktee
seemed to be straightforward enough and interested
in actual agreements, and until now Davis hadn’t had any appreciable contact
with them. A few others he’d made inroads with before were now coming to the
forefront as well, but most of the delegation was here trying to trick or
leverage Star Force into disadvantageous positions…as if Davis were a
newb
and couldn’t see through these guys even without his
telepathy.

He’d turned down their request for an embassy in the
Solar System, instructing them that they could build one in Epsilon Eridani
like everyone else, and he thought they were dragging out negotiations here
trying to get that decision reversed. Fortunately that meant they were still
here when the alert had come in, so he’d have a chance to wring the information
out of the Sety envoy personally.

“
You requested
my counsel?
” the Sety said as he walked into a small conference room where
Davis was waiting for him, not affording any of the representatives access to
his office.

“
I was told by
your people to ask you for information regarding a matter in this star system
,”
Davis said, activating a holographic map. “
It
has no name in our database, nor the Li’vorkrachnika’s, but at present the Sety
have a large warfleet there in addition to those of 9 other races including the
Li’vorkrachnika…and they are not fighting each other
.”

“
I was informed
that we had recently annexed a system within Li’vorkrachnika borders, and I
believe it is this system, but I do not know what other vessels would be with
them, and I sincerely doubt that the Li’vorkrachnika would allow our presence
without throwing themselves into a suicidal frenzy
.”

Davis silently brought up the recordings from the
Ma’kri showing the various fleets.

“
As you can see,
I am not making this up. Your ships are there, in league with the
Li’vorkrachnika and others. We’ve identified one race as the Trinx. The others
are unknown to us. Explain this
.”

“
I cannot. I do
not know the nature of our business there, only the annexation of the system
.”

“
My ship was
specifically told to refer the matter to this delegation, and you’re telling me
you have no information to give me?
”

“
I’m afraid I do
not. I can tell you that two of those races are known to me. They are the
Domu
and Chamra. We have relations with them but they are
not part of The Nexus and live far beyond our borders.
”

“
Take note
,”
Davis said as he advanced the timeline on the recordings, “
that this allied fleet fired upon my ship when it didn’t leave the
system as instructed. The Sety are part of that fleet, therefore I need
answers.
”

The envoy stared at the images for a moment. “
I do not know what to tell you. I know of no
reason why our fleet would be at cross purposes with yours. What did your ship
do?
”

“
It moved in to
take a closer scan of the planet and found this
,” Davis said, showing him
the enhanced subterranean image. “
A large
object, sensor
stealthed
, that the combined fleet
seems to be excavating in conjunction with the Li’vorkrachnika
.”

“
Curious indeed
.”

“
Curious doesn’t
cut it. That fleet said to ask you, now you’re telling me you have no answers?
”
Davis reiterated.

“
I do not
.”

“
Then we were
deliberately told to ask you in order to waste our time. When you are here to
discuss matters of greater cooperation, such insulting tactics do not help your
case
.”

“
I cannot
control our fleet. They do not answer to me
.”

“
Why would that many
ships be there? What could possibly pry them away from your territory? I know
you’re overtaxed, don’t try to deny it, so what would justify stripping that
many warships away from other priorities?
”

“
Again, I do not
know
.

“
And how long do
you think it would take to get me some answers?
”

“
A message would
have to be sent back via courier ship. It would take a minimum of 3 months.
”

“
And I’m
guessing the answer would be that they didn’t know as well, which will have
just wasted three more months of my time
,” Davis said angrily. “
Do you have any objection to us going back
and asking the fleet ourselves?
”

“
I would caution
against that. If your ship drew fire then they are taking whatever the matter
is very seriously
.”

“
I take anyone
who fires on one of my ships very seriously
.”

“
I do not know
what is occurring here
,” the Sety said, pointing at the holograms that
lingered above the table, “
but if you
were told to leave then it is best that you heed their warning. I will send a
priority message back to my homeworld on the fastest vessel we have inquiring
to this matter and informing them that your ship was fired upon. If you wish
it, I will go personally to expedite matters
.”

“
Yes, you go and
deliver a message from me. I have to have a really good explanation as to what
is going on or I will not sanction The Nexus’s presence in that system. They
are allied with the Li’vorkrachnika far beyond your borders. We are taking this
region, and because of the Li’vorkrachnika’s involvement here we will not pass
by this system. We will take it by force if needed, unless you can convince me
of the need to do otherwise.
”

“
Strong as you
are, you cannot stand up against that combined fleet
,” the Sety strongly
urged. “
I do not know the capabilities of
all of those ships, but if they are on par with ours you wouldn’t stand a
chance in armed conflict, nor would we wish it to come to that given our recent
inroads.
”

“
My ship has
already been fired upon
,” Davis said simply.

“
Was it damaged?
”

“
No
.”

“
Then you can
choose to overlook the incident
.”

“
Why would I do
that?
”

“
To avoid a much
more costly one
.”

“
You’re in our
backyard now. You don’t dictate to us
.”

“
If my
government sent in that large of a fleet, respectfully, they are dictating what
occurs in that system. I do not think they will interfere in any others, and
whatever the matter is in this one, it must be of the utmost importance
.”

“
You know we
have strong relations with the H’kar
.”

“
You have made
this clear, yes
.”

“
Now I see you
have allied with the Li’vorkrachnika. Previously, you have not fully supported
the H’kar in the defense of their territory against the Li’vorkrachnika. Do you
see the problem with this?
”

“
I am beginning
to
,” the Sety said, clearly unbalanced. He’d been sent here to ingratiate
himself with Star Force and now he was in a very awkward and unexpected
position.

“
The
construction of a Nexus embassy in Epsilon Eridani is hereby canceled. You will
not have a presence here if you are allied with our enemy, and I will need a
full and open accounting of what is happening before I will even begin to
reconsider that. Until such time I will deal with the races of The Nexus
individually, but you and the Sety vessel here must leave immediately. Do not
come back until you have an explanation that will meet my satisfaction. The other
vessels may remain to conduct individual negotiations, then when completed,
they will also leave and none of you will be allowed back into this star system
again without my permission. Return here and expect to have your ships
confiscated. You may bring any further diplomatic inquiries to one of our other
systems and the information will be relayed here via our communications grid
.”

“
Do not throw
away what we have accomplished here over a misunderstanding
.”

“
My ship was
fired upon. That is not a misunderstanding
.”

“
The Sety did
not fire
.”

“
Their
compatriots did, and they were also in pursuit. Your fleet is working in
conjunction with theirs and the Li’vorkrachnika’s, and you didn’t even bother
to inform us you had assets in our invasion corridor…let alone a fleet of that
size
.”

“
I was not
instructed to. Had I know it would be of relevance I would have told you we had
assets in that system, but given that your war front had not reached that area
yet I did not think it was an issue. I apologize for the oversight
.”

“
I highly doubt
this was an oversight, and I do not want apologies…I want answers. There is
nothing further to discuss until you have some. Return to your homeworld and
find them
.”

“
As you wish
,”
the Sety said, not wanting to cool relations any more with arguing. He turned
his tree-like mass around and walked out of the room leaving Davis standing
beside the chair he had never taken. A few minutes later another person walked
in that door, shaking his head.

“He doesn’t know,” Riley-038 said, having been
telepathically observing from another room. “But he had been notified of the
activity in the system without being given any details and told to downplay it
if asked.”

“I got that feeling too. How important is that fleet?”

“Huge. He’s never seen one of that size assembled
before, nor does he have any idea why that many would be necessary. The two
races he identified are regarded as being too powerful to join The Nexus and
are contemporaries of the Sety.”

“The Sety and their peers,” Davis said, turning and
pointing to the subsurface scan floating in holo along with the other major
recon items. “What do you think that is?”

“Could be a ship. Kind of small for a city, but if
there are remains of some civilization even more advanced than these guys, it
could be of enough value to them to warrant this level of paranoia.”

“
Zak’de’ron
?”

“I doubt it. The finds we’ve documented have been
basically trash left behind. If they had anything of value I’d bet they’d have
recovered it by now.”

“Agreed. Who else in the database would fit this
profile?”

“Nothing in this region, and it’s beyond the survey
zone.”

“Was their coming here a coincidence or a
distraction?”

“Coincidence. We wouldn’t even have been scouting that
system if the mastermind hadn’t tipped us off to it. That said, they knew we’d
get there eventually.”

“Did they think we’d pass it by because it wasn’t on
the map?”

“I think they don’t worry about it with that large of
a fleet. They think they can dictate whatever they want.”

“Can they?”

“I’ll need to pull a chunk of ships from here and a
lot of other systems in order to not delay the ongoing invasions.”

“Do it. We can’t let the lizards have safe haven
anywhere, and we can’t let The Nexus dictate to us on our own doorstep…nor
whoever the rest of these races are. I get the feeling we’re tripping over a
long existing relationship between them and the lizards that they never
expected to come to light.”

“That doesn’t explain the excavation.”

“No, it doesn’t. I think it’s tied into it, but
whatever is going on there is recent. Find out what it is. We’re not waiting
for their politicians to stall us. We haven’t had any here for a long time, but
that doesn’t mean I don’t remember their tactics.”