Annals of the Keepers: War 267 (Book 1 in the Gashnee Saga) (10 page)

Data Cell 15

Shenta Parejas contemplated
what course of action he should take with his senior-ranking officers. This internal clash within his ranks couldn’t continue.

Shenta rested his powerful hands on the windowsill as he peered out into space from within his private quarters.

A beep sounded at the door.

“Enter,” Parejas voiced.

The door opened and in walked Kason and Nevlen.

This was the first time Kason had been to Commander Parejas’s private quarters.

The first thing Kason spotted as he entered was the large square centerpiece; it was made of crystal glass with an unprecedented view through the hull, out into space. Around the outer edge of this 10’ by 10’ piece of glass were four black armchairs and two couches, each opposite the other. A table sat in the middle looking as if it were suspended over the transparent floor.

Even Nevlen’s gaze was locked onto the elegant see-through surface.

“Please, gentlemen, have a seat,” Parejas spoke, unmoving from his windowed position.

Kason and Nevlen sat in the armchairs opposite from one another.

Commander Parejas continued to stand and stare at the stars as if he were searching for something beyond the glass.

Kason watched Shenta from his seat. He could make out the reflection in the glass and the concerned expression upon his commander’s face.

Behind Shenta, Kason noticed a large desk and chair. A corridor ran off towards the other end. He could not see where it led.

Shenta Parejas turned to face them.

“You assume that I brought you here for reprimands for what occurred on the station between you two. You would be incorrect in that assumption.”

Kason and Nevlen glanced at each other.

Shenta sat down on the end of the couch, closest to Nevlen.

“Your actions during the invasion of Earth were both exemplary and, at the same time, reckless.”

Nevlen spoke before Kason, but not by much.

“It was much different than what it appeared,” Nevlen said before Kason interrupted.

“I can assure you, Commander, the Reavers…”

Shenta’s hand rose to stop the two men dead in their tracks.

“I will not have a repeat of the first de-briefing with you two.” He glared at both. “Do I make myself clear?” Shenta’s tone demanded confirmation.

“Aye, sir,” Nevlen responded.

“Yes, sir,” Kason replied.

Commander Parejas looked over his two officers for a moment before he continued.

“I have thought about the discord and hostility between you two, amongst the ground forces and the Reaver units. This, I cannot tolerate. I have enough issues with the Assembly back home than to deal with it here among my own troops,” Shenta said, leaning back into the couch. He continued. “We must solve this issue between you two. It has gone on far too long. So, this is what I have decided, and there will be no debate on the matter,” Shenta said.

Kason looked over at Nevlen, who glared back in his direction.

Shenta got up and walked over to his desk. He motioned for the two men to follow.

Kason and Nevlen rose and approached.

Removing two holo-sheets from a file, Commander Parejas handed one to each of his officers.

“We have three missions. The first one you know of. The Assembly decided, without full vote approval, over-ridden by a security Precept, that we attend the Kryth conference in the Montis system in the coming week,” Parejas said.

Kason looked over the following data on the holo-sheet and spoke, “I heard what Assemblyman Tallis said, but this isn’t the right time to show up at some galactic conference’s doorstep and say, ‘Hi’.”

“This, I understand. But, the Precept still stands,” Parejas said.

“Sir, if I may,” Nevlen offered. “We have such an incredible opportunity here to explain who we are and why we attacked the Sol system. I believe the Assembly made a wise decision and…”

“Commander, Captain, I am not interested in discussing your diplomatic dossiers. Come to think of it, I believe you two do not possess such credentials of diplomatic protocol.” Shenta looked at each of his officers before continuing. “What you are here to listen to is how we are going to accomplish the Assembly’s Precept -- whether or not we agree or disagree with them.” Shenta stood and walked back to the window. “The reason I brought you two here,” he paused, “is that I have two pressing matters of vital importance. One is to capture the Cuukzen that escaped Dalyth Point. We have come into some intel on his whereabouts. So this is what I am going to do. Kason, your team will lead this capture mission with two of Nevlen’s troops.”

Kason shot up out of his seat. “But, Commander-”

Parejas’ glare stopped him. Parejas turned to Nevlen.

“You, Commander, will retrieve a surveillance team off the planet
Motebak 3
, behind Kryth lines, taking with you two of Kason’s Reavers, Ramek and Jens.”

Shenta knew the two men wanted to go at each other this minute. It was the whole reason he got them here, to work together. He wasn’t sure if it could be done, but he had to try before his ranks tore themselves apart, destroying unit cohesion.

Parejas continued.

“You, Kason, will leave within the hour. Nevlen, you and the two Reavers assigned will leave once Kason returns with the Cuukzen. The
Orion’s Rage
will then leave for the conference with Kason’s team escorting as a diplomatic security detail. Nevlen, you will meet up with the delegation in Montis once you have extracted the team from the planet. There will be no discussion or argument regarding this matter of the assigned missions. The first one to even utter a complaint will find themselves in the brig. Do I make myself clear?”

Both men acknowledged their agreement.

“Now get out of my sight,” Parejas snapped.

Both Kason and Nevlen exited the room.

Shenta turned back towards the window.

He didn’t know what was tougher. Getting these two to work together or pulling off the Retribution mission. He conceded the latter, but not by much.

Data Cell 16

The small moon
was a wind-whipped sand pile of grit. Scattered over the landscape were thousands of ever-changing dunes, ravaged by the relentless gusts. At first glance, life appeared to thrive here with what seemed to be large serpents, coursing through and over the rolling hills. Upon closer examination, those withering snakes were just perpetual altering sand folds moving wildly across a barren surface, devoid of life.

The lights appeared through the choking blizzard of the fine brown atmosphere before a ship outline came through. Soon, the roar of engines drowned out the pummeling winds.

A Kryth shuttle descended to the moon’s surface.

Vents of gas discharged from the landed shuttle as beacon lights marked the hull’s outer edge.

With a
whine
, the shuttle ramp opened and dropped onto the soft surface, its leading edge sinking beneath.

Two Kryth soldiers in full armor and breathing apparatus descended the ramp and walked away from the ship. They stood with weapons ready as the sandblasting grains beat against them.

One of the Kryth soldiers activated a control in his hand.

The ground began to vibrate, a low hum emanated from below the surface. The buzzing intensified as metal scraped and shifted underneath. The sand in front of the Kryth swirled as if being sucked downward. The ground parted, as it expanded down and outward.

A thin metal structure rose through the sand and into the air, about 15 meters above the soldiers. The ground wrenched opened and a hydraulic moan gave way to two large opening doors parting beneath the sand. An ascending staircase now led below the surface to a hidden metal platform.

Two robed figures emerged from the shuttle; one was smaller than the other, and moved down past the descending stairs into the shrouded subterranean bunker. Two more armored soldiers appeared from inside the shuttle hold to take up positions opposite their counterparts. 

The robed figures walked down a short well-lit rusted metal corridor. They came to a stop at a security door, down a short distance from the stairs.

The small figure punched in a code to a keypad along the door entrance. The air hissed out of the opening as it slid back into the wall, exposing the entrance.

The two entered as the door closed behind them.

Lights flickered a few times before stabilizing in a small 15-meter by 15-meter room.

Consoles lined one wall of this tiny abode while a small bed and some crates lined the other.

Both robed figures removed their hoods.

“So this is where the spy,” Voskal Lat caught himself, amending his sentence, “where the
bounty hunter
Mistuuk resides?”

With a gruff, Mistuuk responded, “Not resides, but hides. This is my safe room,” he said keying up a console and other computer systems. “You can understand that someone with my stature and knowledge would want to safe-guard one’s assets.” The Cuukzen spoke with a cheeky grin.

Voskal lifted up a cloth, which covered some crates in a corner. Food stuffs and other provisions were strewn underneath.

Voskal reared back at the unknown and unwelcomed stench that assailed his nostrils from rotten food pieces. Most were only half eaten and exposed from their packaging.

“I can only imagine what secrets lay within your little bunker, but I think I’ve found a few.” Voskal grimaced at the clutter and the stench now filling the room. “And when was it you said you were here last?” He was interested to know the response.

The computer terminal in front of Mistuuk beeped a reply.

In excited nervousness, Mistuuk voiced, “It’s here. See, I told you. Mistuuk keeps every bit of information. See for yourself.”

Voskal leaned into the monitor as the data displayed. His eyes wide now, he devoured what he looked upon.

Voskal gasped and pointed a finger at a particular outline within the hyperspace signature matrix on the screen. “There, right there, that’s. . . “ He paused in contemplation.

Voskal Lat’s mind whirled at what was displayed and the repercussions if it was correct. But, he couldn’t assume. No, he must have evidence because his life and the lives of every Kryth could depend on it.

He was eager, almost hungry for the answer.

“Do you have any more recordings of this unknown hyper-space matrix?”  Voskal asked Mistuuk.

“Of course I do. Who do you think I am? Some back alley off-world spy?”

Voskal Lat’s smile grew the entire width of his face.

Mistuuk punched in a few more keys and the monitor flashed, moving the image to the top, and laying over two more matrix patterns.

Voskal’s expression changed, his now massive smile receding into a tense expression. His eyes began to glaze over at the data before him.

With his lips quivering, Voskal spoke. “Some thirty percent of the matrix matches the three samples. Could this be?” he questioned himself.

Mistuuk waited for Voskal to work it out.

Voskal continued. “If I am correct, this thirty percent looks much like…” Before he could finish the aired thought, Mistuuk stepped in and ended the sentence for him.

“…like an
Azliklon-Gashnee
matrix?”

A blade being unsheathed rang and was at Mistuuk’s throat.

Voskal Lat’s nervous amazement now turned serious, his eyes flashed over Mistuuk’s stunned expression.

“You do not speak that name ever again, neither in my presence nor anyone else’s. That race does not exist any longer. You work for the Domain now, your life continues by our generosity. Do I make myself clear, Cuukzen?”

“Yes.”

“Now, how do I make a secure transmission to Dranneous Kor?” Voskal asked.

Voskal took the blade away from the Cuukzen’s throat.

Mistuuk started to bring up the communication console as Voskal Lat re-sheathed his knife.

∞∞∞

The sand swirled around the dunes outside the hidden bunker.

The four Kryth soldiers still stood their posts, oblivious to the shifting sands on the hill to their flank, close to the shuttle.

The sand moved as though water were running over its surface.

Kason spoke into his helmet’s display. “Terrain cammo, off.” 

The watery sand shifted one last time and faded over the three Reavers and two of Nevlen’s troopers.

The ‘Go’ signal was issued and Kason’s team was up from their prone positions with weapons drawn.

Kason’s team, with Ramek’s and Jens’ replacements, moved down towards the Kryth soldiers.

∞∞∞

The console image came through. The voice on the other end spoke.

“What is your report, my friend?” Lintorth said.

“The bounty hunter was correct. He captured the hyper-space signature matrix of the unknown ship. And, Lintorth,” Voskal took in a breath before he said his next words, “only seventy percent of the matrix is unknown. The other thirty percent has been cross-checked and identified with two other samples, confirming to me this portion of the signature is Gashnee in nature.”

Voskal did not want to make eye contact with Lintorth on the screen when he said it. His head went down; waiting for the angry reply he thought would come.

The Cuukzen stood there, watching both of them for a reaction.

It was Lintorth who spoke first.

“This, I could use. What of the seventy percent of the signature. Do we have any leads on whose portion this belongs to?”

Voskal swooned with joy as the condemning he anticipated did not occur.

“No, Lintorth, we do not know of the remaining seventy percent. Shouldn’t we worry about the Gashnee portion of the data?” Voskal Lat volunteered.

“These beings and their technology are not Gashnee, not even close. The Gashnee are extinct and long forgotten, but it is fascinating to know part of their signature does match Gashnee tech,” Lintorth finished as he contemplated the situation.

Voskal Lat seemed confused. “But the Gashnee lead should be followed up. Shouldn’t it?”

“Our answers lie with this unknown race. Their signature holds the clues, as does the attack on Sol. It’s all starting to come together.” Lintorth’s eyes darted as he searched his thoughts for the answers. “I believe the Lore Archives on Dranneous will hold the final resolutions we seek.”

“The Lore archives? The Si Lord will not grant you access to that data, even if your name holds honor with your Lore father’s, Lintorth. I mean once you lay the Gashnee info on the Generals, they will shut you down before you even give such a request.”

“I will use this to our advantage. I want you to begin a secure transmission and send the matrix data,” Lintorth said.

“I do not understand. We must track the Gashnee lead and…”

“We will. This unknown race has the answers to the riddle at hand. Send it
now
, Voskal Lat.”

Voskal motioned Mistuuk to begin the transmission. The data began to relay.

“I want you to destroy the console from where this is being sent, Voskal. Do you understand?”

Voskal did not hesitate. The console showed the transfer of data at sixty-percent when the roar of weapons’ fire came muffled through the sand bunker.

“Voskal! Send the data and destroy the back track!” Lintorth insisted.

∞∞∞

The Kryth soldiers fell where they stood. The teams’ weapons cut them down as the group approached the shuttle.

Kason signaled Nevlen’s two troopers up the ramp.

A short moment later, muffled weapons’ fire issued from inside the shuttle. Nevlen’s men came back down, signaling to Kason all was clear, the shuttle was theirs.

Kason, Keelen, and Maddox continued towards the bunker and down the stairs.

Maddox approached the door; he attached the flat bastards around the outer edge and set the center counter to the number three.

Kason attached a magnetic plate with a tether to the center.

They both backed down the corridor towards the stairs.

Kason nodded and Maddox detonated the device.

The almost silent concussion sounded with a
whump
.

Kason pulled the tether, with the help of Keelen, as the metal door fell to the floor. The two Reavers were in the room with Keelen standing guard outside.

Bang
! The flash of a stun round found the center of the room. The Reavers were on top of Voskal Lat and Mistuuk, while they were stunned.

Maddox grabbed Voskal and tossed him across the room into the crates with a crash.

He then grabbed Mistuuk and bound his arms behind his back.

Kason approached the monitor screen close-up. There, staring back at him, was Lintorth Sol.

Kason spoke in the Krythtinian language, “Thanks for your cooperation, Kryth. Or should I say, Lintorth Sol.”

Kason pulled the data disc form the console and cut the transmission to the monitor.

Lintorth’s angry expression flickered out with the signal.

Maddox lifted Mistuuk right off his feet from the bindings behind his back, carrying him like a small sack.

Mistuuk let out a grunt as the Reaver moved out the door.

Kason spoke into his HUD, “Set retro-dart, tranq. Target Kryth Mahr. Set, one hour.”

Kason raised his fist towards Voskal, who was now just shaking off his misfortune.

The dart fired and hit Voskal in his torso.

Voskal looked down at the barb.

He went to remove it only to fall face-first onto Mistuuk’s trash-riddled cot.

Kason exited the bunker.

Keelen greeted him at the shuttle’s ramp. “We’re all set here, boss.”

“Let’s get off this moon and rendezvous with the Flashpoint,” Kason said.

Kason tapped Keelen on the shoulder as the three Reavers ascended the ramp. Nevlen’s troopers were the last to board from their guard positions.

The ramp closed behind them. The engines came to life and the captured Kryth shuttle roared up through the dusty atmosphere.