The Copernicus Deception (The Human Chronicles Saga Book 15) (2 page)

Prologue

A ten-point magnitude quake struck the planet Marix in the region around the city of Jendis, sending panicked natives located outside the reinforced buildings scrambling for the safety of the nearest survival-chamber.

Even though such violent rumblings were commonplace on Marix, this particular event was stronger than most. Overall, the death toll would climb to over nine-thousand, mainly victims of falling debris on the streets outside the buildings. Even with the life-saving composite shelters placed on every block, the population of the city had grown to such a level that even these were inadequate. As thousands of panicked residents dashed for the shelters, they encountered hordes of others with the same idea. When filled to capacity, the doors to the shelters closed automatically, leaving the slower-reacting to suffer the deadly shower of masonry, brick and metal raining from above.

The building where Nurion Massi was located was the singularly best-built structure on the planet—the best money could buy—so he rode out the quake with little concern for his own safety. However, he was concerned about his nearby manufacturing plants. He quickly brought up the damage assessment on his computer. There were sixteen facilities within the quake zone, yet only two had shut down. He read the data stream. The two affected plants sat directly over the epicenter, and even as the emergency protocols called for a thirty minute recovery rate following a quake of this magnitude, it was estimated these facilities would take an hour to come back online.

Nurion nodded. That was acceptable. He wasn’t an unreasonable creature, knowing that not all things were under his control, particularly the forces of nature on Marix.

He switched the view on his computer screen back the conversation he had been engaged in at the time of the quake, failing to even glance at the casualty estimates within the manufacturing plants. That was not a concern, since most of the facilities were seventy-percent automated. Flesh and blood creatures could be more easily replaced than expensive and sophisticated equipment. What he was concerned about was the estimated .012-percent drop in delivery rate the plant closures would produce. Quotas would have to be adjusted and the decline compensated for through increased production at the other facilities….

Nurion’s computer now showed the frowning face of a grey-skinned creature with a round head and wide, almond-shaped eyes. “Another shaking?”

“It is common here, the result of the three orbiting moons.”

“And yet you stay, even as there are innumerable worlds to which you may move your headquarters.”

“Marix is but one of fourteen hundred worlds where we have facilities, yet it was the first. Because of that fact it is a matter of tradition that I must maintain continuity; however, personally, I would move to another location if it were within my power to do so.”

The grey creature smiled, a thin stretching of the lips while partially concealing yellowing teeth. “And now my friend acts as if he is not the leader of the largest business operation in the galaxy. Nurion, if you wish to move your headquarters, you have the power to do so.”

Nurion returned the thin smile. “Power? You believe I have power from the position I hold?” He shook his head. “I am a puppet to forces greater than myself. Just consider, here I am speaking with you, Onix, a lowly political representative to whom I must not only listen, but also receive advice and direction. So who really has the power here?”

Onix chuckled. “We have been friends and associates for many standards, so there is no need to play such games. There is a symbiotic relationship at work here. An organization as large and wide-spread as MK Weapons Systems could not survive without government assistance and protection, while
my
employers could not exist without the weapons you produce. And the truth is—as we both know—a word from you and I would be replaced without a moment’s concern or hesitation.”

Only the slightest nod came from Nurion, acknowledging the validity of the statement. There were thousands of creatures who could take Onix’s place; yet only three were in a position to supplant Nurion. These were his immediate ranking counselors. In approximately twenty standard years, one would step into his position, but not now. For the time being, Nurion Massi was the Point-Operator of Marix-Kliss Weapons Systems, makers of the ubiquitous line of hand-held MK bolt launchers, the largest weapons manufacturer in the galaxy.

At least it was for the time being….

As an aftershock rumbled through the building, Nurion’s expression turned more serious. “I understand you have secured the artifact. At what point will it be forwarded to me?”

“We had once secured it,” Onix corrected. “But now the vessel transporting the device has been confiscated by local authorities of the Visidor Affiliation.”

“And you are having difficulty retrieving the vessel?”

“There are complications, as is common within the Kidis Frontier these days, ever since the Juireans began the process of annexation. Is there nothing you can do to influence them?”

“That process is underway,” said Nurion, “yet this new Elder is irascible. He is a throwback to a time before the Humans. He still believes the Expansion rules the galaxy.”

“His actions in the Frontier have made all the local alliances very nervous and subject to political influence—”

“I would imagine that would be your preferred method of operation,” Nurion interrupted.

“Normally, yet now the Humans are making overtures in the region as well.”

“Yes, I have heard. With the success of Adam Cain and the others in the Sol-Kor universe, the Humans are becoming more belligerent. There is movement along the Frontier. A new war is in the making.”

“Which should be very good for
your
business, I would imagine.”

Veins pulsed in the neck of the Point-Operator. “It should,” he said, undisguised frustration in his voice. “Yet the Humans are pursuing their own course, and as we have seen, their weapons are much more effective than ours.”

Onix shook his huge head. “I still cannot see how that is possible. Centuries ago, MK abandoned projectile weapons for energy devices. Now it seems as though the Humans wish to throw away all that progress, all that advancement, and place us back in a more barbaric time.”

“The truth is the Expansion—and regions beyond—have adapted to our energy weapons, developing strategies and defenses around them,” Nurion explained. “The Humans have upset that balance. For the time being, their weapons have no adequate defense, since none have been needed for a very long time. Unless they abandon their use of such devices, the rest of the galaxy will have to change, at least temporarily. In time, the Humans will realize the long-term inefficiency of their weapons, just as we did so long ago.”

“Yet they appear to be stepping up their activities, both in development and in distribution,” Onix countered.

“As I am well aware,” Nurion snapped. “Never before since the Xan-Fi Accommodation have we experienced such an aggressive competitor. And this is coming from several sources on Earth, not just a single manufacturer. As such, there are numerous entities all competing to provide the most-effective weapons for the lowest cost. The galaxy is taking notice and our market share is dropping.”

“That is the reason this cargo is so vital.”

“I am also aware of that, Onix, which is why I am frustrated at your lack of progress in delivering the prototype to me.”

“I say this only to reassure you that I, too, know the seriousness of the mission. All efforts are underway, even as the aforementioned complications present themselves.”

“And what says Copernicus Smith?” Nurion asked.

“The pressure I have place on him has had an effect. He assures us that efforts are currently underway to recover the transport vessel.”

“What efforts?”

“He did not elaborate, yet he did indicate it has something to do with Adam Cain.”

Nurion’s eyes grew wide. “Adam Cain! He is involving Adam Cain?”

“He says it is a necessity.”

“Adam Cain is the most notorious Human in the galaxy. He cannot be trusted.”

“Copernicus Smith is also a Human,” said Onix.

“Of Human origin, but hardly of Human loyalties,” Nurion countered. “Let us just hope our useful tool knows what he is doing. In the past, anything Adam Cain has touched has turned into a crisis of galactic proportions.”

“Be assured, I have safeguards in place against that happening again.” And then the thin smile returned to the gray face of Onix. “It is amazing what an unlimited supply of Juirean credits can buy.”

Now Nurion frowned. “For your information, the supply is not unlimited. As Point-Operator I have a responsibility to see that I get what I pay for. If not, then the credits could be easily redirected to other, more punitive measures.”

Nurion saw that his last statement—even as cryptic as it was—had been received and understood. The huge Silean, Onix Gru, swallowed hard, visible as a descending lump within his thick neck.

Even though the two creatures on the CW link had known each other for a very long time, Onix knew that one did not fail Marix-Kliss Weapons Systems, not without serious consequences.

For the Silean, the prospect of being
replaced
as the go-between with Nurion Massi suddenly took on a whole other meaning.

Adam Cain is an alien with an attitude.

His adventures continue….

Chapter 1

Adam Cain swore he’d never touch another drop of alcohol.

Of course, he’d made that same pledge at least a hundred times before, maybe more. But this time he meant it.

For the time being, though, both he and Riyad Tarazi were thankful they didn’t have to pilot the starship they were in, as they would be doing if Lila hadn’t stolen the
Najmah Fayd
. With hangovers of nuclear intensity, it was all they could do to keep from throwing up in the culled-together mess that was the vessel owned by Copernicus Smith. If they had, Adam was sure no one would have noticed.

 In addition to how shitty he felt, Adam had forgotten where they were going, except that it was somewhere to help spring his friends Kaylor and Jym from the clutches of a local police force. Now the pair of suffering Humans were in the common room of the starship, with the lights dimmed, and bunched up in near-fetal positions on a couch and chair respectively, and grimacing at every pop, whine and moan of the spacecraft’s metal hull.

Adam had never noticed what a constant cacophony of irritating noises a transiting starship made. There wasn’t a moment’s peace, and the meds Smith had given the pair had failed to take even an edge off the debilitating pain they were experiencing.

So when Copernicus appeared at the doorway, Adam could barely make out the figure in the bright light streaming in from the hallway. “Dammit, man, shut the door!”

Copernicus stood in the entryway, shaking his head. “Jesus Christ, are the two of you going to make it?”

“That depends on what your definition of
it
is?” Adam groaned. “And either come in or leave, but don’t stand there with the door open.”

Copernicus stepped into the room, and to Adam’s relief, the door slid shut. But then he stepped over to the lighting control and flicked the switch.

“Holy shit!” Riyad Tarazi cried out as the room exploded in a flood of brilliance.

But then the light dimmed considerably.

“What the hell?” Copernicus tried the switch a second time.

“Don’t bother,” Adam said. “It won’t work.”

Copernicus glared at Adam. “Don’t mess with my ship, Cain! I’ve heard rumors about some of the things you can do.”

“Your, eh, beautiful spaceship is fine, don’t worry. Just give us a little more time to recover.”

“Hey, my ship is a lot better that yours…oh, yeah, you don’t have a starship of your own.” Copernicus shifted his gaze between the two balled-up lumps of misery. “What the hell were you guys drinking last night?”

“Ask him,” Adam said. The slight motion of his head in Riyad’s direction ignited a spasm of pain on his face.

“Hell if I know,” Riyad grumbled. “Could’ve been yak piss for all I know. But
potent
yak piss.”

“Well you better get your acts together,” Copernicus scolded. “We’ll be at Visidor tomorrow afternoon.”

“
Visidor
—that’s the name of the place!” The moment Adam made the emphatic announcement, he regretted it…or at least the intensity of his spoken words.

Copernicus continued to shake his head. “Saviors of the galaxy…heroes of the Human race. Yeah, right.” Then he turned and left the room, leaving the door open wide in his wake.

Adam Cain—through his Formilian brain-interface implant—accessed the door controls. A moment later the room was once more cast in soothing shadows, a medicinal necessity for the heavily hung-over, heroes or not.

********

It was a gold statue representing some local idol, and being the nearest object in reach, Admiral Andy Tobias hurled it through the air with all the power of a major league pitcher. When the figurine hit the opposing wall and deformed into a barely recognizable replica of the original, everyone in the room were stunned into deathly silence. They knew this was not the time to speak of local customs or religious sensitivities.

“So not only is the TD ship gone, but so are Cain and Tarazi? Does that about sum up the situation?”

Lieutenant-Commander Tom Paulson—the admiral’s second-in-command—nodded. “They left this morning in a vessel owned by a Human named Copernicus Smith.”

“Yeah, I saw him at the spaceport with my two missing renegades.” Tobias looked to where Sherri Valentine sat on a couch, slumped to her left, a head of mottled blonde hair cradled in her hand. Her eyes were bloodshot, and she wore no makeup. “You met this Copernicus guy,” he stated. “What did he want?”

“It’s about Kaylor and Jym,” she mumbled. “Something about them being arrested and needing our help to get out.”

“You were supposed to go with them?”

She looked up at the Admiral. “Yeah…but do I look like I’m in any condition to go out in public?”

“That’s not the point. You agreed to go…and to take the
Najmah Fayd
, if that’s what you call it.”

“You got it right. Weird name, I know.”

“So you, Cain and Tarazi were going to take the only spaceship capable of independent trans-dimensional travel and skip on over to some alien planet and attempt to interfere with local law enforcement?”

“It’s Kaylor and Jym, Andy.”

“I understand that, but you do realize that starship is a lot more important than a couple of our old alien buddies?”

“Stop yelling; my head hurts.”

Tobias gnashed his teeth, his eyes wide, dark pupils surrounded by a sea of white. “Oh, I’m not yelling, Ms. Valentine—not yet.”

“Relax, Andy,” Sherri barked. “They didn’t take your precious ship…Lila did.”

The comment prompted Tobias to shift his attention to Arieel Bol, seated next to Sherri on the couch; her eyes were swollen and red, the result of over four hours of near-constant crying. “And you knew nothing of this?”

“Lila is gone—probably forever—and you think I condoned such an act?”

Andy blinked. “Forgive me, it’s just that if Lila would tell anyone about her plans, it would be her mother.”

“Oh yeah,” Sherri growled. “You can be nice to the hot chick with the big boobs.”

Arieel looked at Sherri briefly before returning her attention to Admiral Tobias. “She is now under the influence of the mutant. She has been convinced she does not belong among beings like us.”

“And no hint as to where she could be?”

“None, Andy. And with the ship she possesses, she could be anywhere by now.”

Andy looked to his small compliment of loyal military personnel, the five enlisted men and officers who had accompanied him—involuntarily—into the Sol-Kor universe and back. They stood near the far wall of the large living room, looking impatient and perturbed. Besides them, Tobias had no other resources available to launch a mission to bring Cain and Tarazi back to Panur’s planet, not with the TD starship gone. All he could do was wait for the escort squadron to arrive—so they could escort
nothing
back to Earth.

The Admiral had lost—or allowed to be lost—the single-most important starship in the galaxy, a quantum leap in technology that would have revolutionized space travel forever. In the meantime, his two top agents were off on some wild rescue mission without sanction or support. There was no telling what kind of trouble they were about to get into. And all the while, the Juireans were preparing to annex the entire Kidis Frontier, which would place Tobias, along with all the others with him, behind enemy lines, if indeed a war did break out as a result.

There were times when Andy wished he’d stayed retired, content to play golf twice a week at his country club in Phoenix, while sharing beers and war stories with his fellow retirees at the nineteenth hole. Instead, here he was stranded on a barely civilized planet four thousand light-years from Earth, and probably facing courts martial for allowing the TD-starship to be taken from his custody.

The one consolation—and a point that would play prominently in his defense—he probably couldn’t have stopped Lila from taking the ship even if he wanted to. She was an immortal mutant alien genius, with super-strength and abilities. Still, he was savvy enough to know that someone had to take the fall. He would have preferred it to be Cain and Tarazi, but they would probably skate by on their hero status. Andy Tobias was a second-tier hero. He could be sacrificed.

Screw it
, he thought. He was almost seventy years old, so what could they really do to him? Take away his pension, cast him out of the service? He glanced around at the gold-lined walls of Panur’s palace. Maybe the Juirean—Benefis Na—had the right idea? Sock away several pounds of the precious metal, and Andy wouldn’t give a damn what they took from him. He’d survive his
golden
years just fine.

He shook off the discordant thoughts and returned his attention to the people in the room.

“Sherri, what do you know of this Copernicus Smith?”

“He said he owns a starship repair and towing service, and that Kaylor and Jym work for him. They were bringing in a tow when they were stopped, arrested and both ships confiscated.”

“Where did this take place?”

“I can’t remember, Andy. You know, all alien names sound alike.”

Andy turned to Paulson. “Did they file a flight plan?”

Paulson grimaced. “On this planet? Not hardly. All we know is that Smith landed here three days ago and then left around ten this morning. His initial course was…
up
.”

“Thank you for that, Mister Paulson,” Andy said sarcastically. “Do we have a link address for him?”

“Nothing we can find,” Paulson answered.

“Sherri, he has a business, do you recall the name?”

“Ah, man, ask me later. Maybe I’ll remember then—”

“Snap out of it, Valentine. This is important.”

“All I know is it didn’t have
Smith
in the name; that much I remember. Wait…C-S, yeah, CS something or another.”

Tobias turned to Paulson, who was already typing feverishly on a datapad. “Help me out, Sherri,” he said. “There are about a billion companies registered in the galaxy that start with CS.”

“It’s a towing and repair service.”