Spacer Clans Adventure 2: Naero's Gambit (9 page)

10

In the aftermath of the
‘skirmish’ with the Ejjai invaders, Naero’s trade fleet licked its wounds, tended the wounded, and held their wakes for the few Spacer dead on the third day.

Naero sighed as the names were read one last time, before
the fleet launched thirty-seven caskets into Haiku-4’s category green sun. Returning their dead to the stars.

Klyne was of course correct. It was an extremely small number of KIA, considering the size of the engagement and the number of forces involved. Naero was proud of her people.

They stepped up and never hesitated. They arrived in good order, with good intel, adapted to the situation, and put down a vicious foe hard and fast, and with minimal losses.

But watching those
thirty-seven caskets buried one by one into the star was something she never got used to.

Knowing
full well what effect each loss had on the people who loved and knew those individuals.

The effect her own personal losses had on her and her life.

Well, she was simply glad in the end that the number wasn’t higher, even by one more.

They
still had one hundred and three wounded to tend to.

Naero made a point of visiting them all. Listening to their accounts. Seeing to anything they might need.

The ones who could not respond yet she kissed on the forehead and thanked them.

The Ejjai had been completely eradicated. They proved worthless as prisoners and interrogation was both dangerous and useless. Some even had booby-traps of explosives or poison gas canisters implanted inside of them at random.

The naval battle with the Ejjai had also been quick and decisive. Yet when defeat came, failsafe devices on their warships blew them all to bits. Not a single ship was captured intact.

But Intel poured ov
er every detail. And kept large teams sifting through the debris.

The surviving colonists, about a third of their original number, were shipped back to the border worlds as refugees, m
ost of them traumatized and shattered by the horrendous losses they suffered.

The Haiku-4 colony
ceased to be viable and was scheduled to be abandoned, once Intel went over it and studied the enemy in every way possible.

Naero recovered
quickly and set out with her fleet once more, about a standard day from her long-delayed rendezvous with Klyne and her Mystic testing.

She could not
put a finger on why she grew so increasingly nervous about that.

With her powers and abilities
still absent, what could go wrong? Other than she guessed she’d be taking a pounding, without any psyonic abilities to defend herself with.

Naero
received Klyne’s latest secure message in private at the com station in her quarters.

Klyne looked grimmer than usual.

“We obviously have some new problems afoot.”

Naero raised one eyebrow.
“Obviously. What now?”

“
The attack on the colony at Haiku-4 wasn’t the first.”

“I
’ve heard rumors to that effect.”

“
I’m sending you these Intel security reports on a need-to-know basis. We’re not entirely sure who’s behind uplifting the Ejjai.”

“I
’m guessing hardline remnants from Triax.”

“Perhaps. Be prepared. Some of these vids are very
stark. The attack on Haiku-4 and all of these other scattered stories are about to hit the
INS
feeds within the next few hours.”

Naero watched the vids and factual
reports pan by.

“
Klyne, whoever organized all of this needs to be hunted and put down hard.”

“
Agreed. These seemingly random attacks have taken place without warning, in extremely remote locations. Always where no help can usually arrive in time to make any difference.”

“It was just a fluke that my fleet and I were out there chasing Alala.”

“
Two tiny far-flung colonies, a restricted world, a research facility, and two groups of merchant ships, one from the Corps, another from the miners. Same random pattern. Everything and everyone wiped out and picked clean. Even the flesh off the bodies.”

“H
arsh. No one can ever expect any mercy from Ejjai. It simply isn’t in their nature. Just the opposite. Look at the terror frozen on those dead faces. Who in their right mind would ignore all of the risks of uplifting a hyper-violent, invasive species like this?”

Klyne swallowed hard.

Naero blinked. She had never seen him afraid before.

“T
hat’s where it starts to get scary. They’re not simply Ejjai. They’re Ejjai
clones
.”

“Clones?”

“Indeed. Someone’s cloning these monsters. We think in great numbers, most likely to be used as shock troops. This Ejjai fleet was designated as Unit 369. How many more units are there and where are they being kept? We don’t know yet.”

Naero covered her mouth for a moment in shock and horror. “There could be thousands of them.”

Klyne nodded. “Our fear exactly. And even worse, our analysis reveals that Unit 369 was cloned over three decades ago–”

“Thi
s has gone on for thirty years? I wasn’t even born yet!”

“Nano-level trace degeneration markers reveal that they have been in cold storage much of that time. They were only revived and had their uplift training updated only recently. The clones only last for about ten standard years at best before they simply die off. But they
’ve been designed to survive in cold storage for two centuries or more with a minimal percentage of loss.”

“Freeze troops. This is scary, Klyne. How long has it been going on?”

Klyne hesitated. “We don’t know how far the program goes back yet. But we think something is escalating. These attacks have been training exercises it appears. Perhaps they are but tests to see if the freeze troops are compatible with their new ships and equipment. All of their gear is very current and mass produced as well. Quite serviceable for a mass invasion in great numbers.”

“Quantity instead of quality. But who
’s behind all of this? I’m not even sure if the remnants of Triax could keep something this big going behind the scenes for the last three decades.”

“They couldn
’t Naero. Not even when they were on top. They’ve never even had this level of cloning tek. We’ve never had it. Like the ion cannons, we think Triax had gotten some very advanced help from somewhere else. Someone new who has thus far managed to keep a very low profile, but still manages to pweak and effect things behind the scenes.”

“Alien allies?”

“We’re guessing a small number of them, acting primarily as advisors. We keep encountering tek we haven’t come up against before, beyond anything we or the Corps have ever had. It only makes logical sense. The assassins that crashed Sleak’s wedding? They had advanced personal cloaking tek that allowed them to get in close.”

“The Corps have had personal cloakers for years. And Intel longer than that.”

Klyne shook his head. “But not like these. The tek doesn’t match ours or the Corps, and it is far more advanced and efficient. By generations our experts tell us. The only thing they can compare them to are glimpses of stuff they’ve been studying in the KDM.”

Naero took out a deep breath and exhaled.
“So. Someone’s planning a major invasion.”

“We think so too.”

Naero stared out across the stars of the fringe. “Where is all of this cloning and building of these invasion fleets taking place without detection?”

“Easy. In the vast Unknown Regions all around our systems. All of the attacks have been on the borders. Each Ejjai Battle Unit is also both self-sufficient, and self-replicating. The meatships process food for the shock troops and the cloning ships.”

“Cloning ships?”

“The dome vessels. They are programmed to automatically clone more Ejjai troops and manufacture more fleets, according to the available resources.”

Naero shook her head. “Everyone should be very afraid, Klyne. We must find these cloning bases and these freeze troops and wipe them all out. If they ever manage to get a foothold on any of the inhabited worlds and begin reproducing themselves, they could become unstoppable.”

Klyne nodded.
“Agreed. A new hyper-violent, invasive species has been given access to the stars. By their very nature they will seek out competition and domination over all other species. If we can’t contain them, they will spread everywhere they can, and cause untold misery, havoc, and devastation.”

“I
’ll contact
The Dark Star
and put them on high alert. All of my people, the Clans, our allies–even the other Gigacorps need to understand the gravity of this new threat. If this new enemy decides to make a major move, we need to be ready to respond.”

“T
hat process has already begun.”

Klyne smiled slightly. “On a more personal note,
I look forward to greeting you on board
The Kathmandu
for your testing tomorrow. Get good rest, Naero. You’ll need it. Klyne out.”

Naero rubbed her temples and tried to lie down again.

Another night of broken, confused nightmares.

The terrible
scenes from the brutal Ejjai attacks only added to the horror of the usual mixed up mess Naero called her mind.

If only the
Mystics could help her find some kind of mental relief.

If they could manage that feat, she
’d let them beat on her all they wanted. At least for a while.

11

Klyne set the huge Mystic testing room on board
The Kathmandu
to muted gray. Smartwalls, floor, and ceiling. No equipment. No padding.

Lights down low.

From experience, Naero knew that in a training room, just about anything could pop up out of anywhere.

She wore nothing but her black Nytex flight togs.

To her surprise, Klyne and his two adepts wore dark gray Nytex togs also, with hoods and masks pulled up over their heads and faces. Only their keen eyes showing. All three looked to be in top physical condition.

One of the adepts was female with huge green eyes and light freckles. The other was male, with the black slanted eyes of the Li
i-Kim Clans.

If black was the color
for Spacers, the Mystics traditionally wore gray.

They sat with their legs crossed in lotus fashion, focusing their abilities through meditation, and mental discipline. They formed a triangle, each side about three meters apart with them at the points.

“Follow our instructions,” Klyne said. “Take your place among us. Sit in the center; sit as we do, face the instructor.”

A circle of white light appeared at the center of the triangle. Naero walked over and sat down in it, facing Klyne. Her skin barely began to tingle.

A ring of similar light appeared, including the instructor and his two adepts.

Every hair on Naero
’s body went stiff with electric force.

“Y
ou have chosen to come before the circle of Spacer Mystics to be tested for Mystic training. Speak your name.”

“N
aero Amashin Maeris.”

“Y
ou agree to be tested?”

“I
do.”

“I
am Klyne, the instructor. My assistants are Adept Iselle, and Adept Makita. We shall refer to you as Adept Candidate Naero. Follow our instructions. Respond only if asked to respond. If you require any medical attention, it will be administered at the end of the testing. Until then, you are expected endure and continue to do your best. If you understand, say yes.”

“Y
es.”

“T
he testing will begin. Defend yourself.”

Without warning, Makita
’s attack smashed into her.

She blocked one or two out every four or five blows.

A snap wheel kick sent her flying twenty meters, nearly winding her.

The only thing that saved her at all, once again, were the experience and knowledge she gained from her training sessions with Baeven.

Makita proved stronger and faster than her, but he still paled in comparison to the outcast’s terrifying prowess.

Makita charged her.

Naero met him part way.

She took several punishing strikes, but flipped him hard to the ground.

He swept her legs.

They tangled on the ground, wrestling, slipping out of holds, twisting like snakes. Pummeling each other all the while.

They broke, crouched low, and launched themselves at each other again, like Telurian fighting blue cranes.

Naero landed one kick on the side of Makita
’s head.

He clipped her under the chin, grabbed her leg and ankle and swung her hard into the floor, stunning her.

She struggled to get up.

For a few dizzy moments, she couldn
’t.

She rose up and staggered back into her fighting stance.

She half-smiled.

“C
ome on.”

Makita bowed his head just slightly and drew back.

“Defend yourself, “Klyne said again.

Naero whirled to face Iselle.

Too late.

An invisible force slammed into her arms and torso, flinging her back.

She rolled with the strike and came back up into her stance.

Iselle fought her from a distance, punching and striking with her hands in rapid combinations.

Naero struggled to advance, to close the distance between them, while heavy, unseen blows rained down on her from every direction, knocking her one way, and then the other.

“T
elekinetic combat,” Klyne called out. “Try to sense and block the blows. You cannot see them. Reach out with your battle senses. With your mind. Feel them coming. Counter and deflect them. True masters can fight thus without even moving, simply by concentrating.”

At least Iselle still had to physically move in order to project her attacks. That was some help.

Closer. Get closer.

Iselle thrust both hands out violently.

A wall of force drove Naero slowly back. She pushed against it, slowing it even more.

“R
esist. Focus on the energy before you,” Klyne told her, “before it smashes you into the far wall. Fight back. Defeat it.”

She rolled to one side and then the other. The barrier felt solid.

Naero leaped up four meters, felt the top, and flipped herself over it.

Iselle withdrew a step, cupping both hands loosely on the sides of her face.

Spinning orbs of pure telekinetic force shot out rapid fire.

Naero barely perceived them where they warped through the air, making an explosive popping sound.

She tried to dodge them. One whirred past her head like an invisible ball at high speed.

The next clipped her left shoulder, spinning her aside.

Another knocked one leg out from under her.

She kept her feet and ducked, weaving to either side in turns.

Iselle directed her attack at Naero’s feet.

She lost her footing, slipping and sliding on what felt like a bunch of invisible ball bearings cast beneath her.

She tried to roll back to her feet, but panes of force battered her from all sides, keeping her off balance.

It felt like a rubber ball, bouncing around in a box that some one shook.

The sides of the box rapidly closed in.

They tightened all around her, threatening to crush her.

She couldn’t breathe.

Iselle released her without warning.

Naero sprawled gasping, face down on the floor.

“I
’m somewhat surprised,” Klyne noted. “Preliminary tests demonstrate no psyonic aptitude or innate talent to my trained senses whatsoever. That in itself is very rare. After your battle with the former Danner entity, we simply assumed you would exhibit some kind of psyonic ability.”

“I
burned myself out dealing with him. I’m a nud once more.” She admitted it openly. “None of my former abilities have returned.”

So she wasn
’t psyonic anymore. Not even a teknomancer. Disappointing, but not the end of the universe.

“Y
et I sense something incredibly strange within you,” Klyne said. “What could it be?”

Was it Om? He was still inside her somewhere. He had not emerged again either.

“Take your place at the center of us once more. “

Naero did so, resisting an urge to massage several bruises.

Klyne suddenly appeared directly in front of her, sitting lotus fashion just like her and the others.

“I
’m going to attempt to merge directly with your mind telepathically, one of my gifts. I’m also an Auralcognitor. Once I link to your mind, I can sense any type of psyonic energy field you might have, active, passive, or latent. I might even be able to trigger or bring them out to the surface. There might be some discomfort. Shall we proceed?”

“S
ure.”

“D
o as I do. I will show you how to place your hands to effect the mind merge.”

Klyne cupped his left hand firmly behind the base of her skull.

Naero followed his lead.

He placed the fingers of his right hand on precise spots on her face.

Thumb on her forehead, directly between her eyes.

Index finger on her left temple.

The next two fingers curled slightly in front of her left ear. His smallest finger hooked at the point of her ear and jaw.

As soon as Naero placed her right hand the same way, she gasped slightly.

Thin hairs of what felt like burning hot energy threaded their way slowly through the layers of her awareness.

She could feel Klyne connecting with her thoughts. Joining their two minds.

The dull ache continued to grow.

“Y
ou should be feeling the initial discomfort. Hold still. Keep focusing. Almost there. Almost...”

A spike of pure agony exploded within her skull.

Naero screamed, transfixed as if by lightning.

Through the torment, a voice awoke in her mind full force.

Protocols unlocked and engaged. We...are.

interface...partial

Om awoke in confusion, reacting instinctively with fear and vast power.

T
hreat detected...Protect all access.

Neural net...INTRUSION. UNWARRANTED.

LEVEL 1.359 DEFENSIVE RESPONSE

Om lashed out through her.

An intense blast wave of white-hot psyonic energy fanned out rapidly from the epicenter of her immolated mind.

Naero continued to scream.

As if far away in the distance, Klyne and his two adepts shrieked.

*

Naero blinked, her eyes and mouth frozen open.

She lay with her head to one side, in a puddle of her own mixed blood and spittle.

More pain when she attempted to move.

Blood continued to stream from her eyes, ears, nose and mouth. A bloody mess.

Something like a fusion grenade blew her head open.

She reached up with her hands to make sure her skull was still intact.

Some kind of noise.

Warning alarms sounded.

A ship. Yes. they were on a ship. The Spacer Intel Ship
Kathmandu
. She was...being tested. For the Mystics.

Something went very terribly wrong.

She focused, getting to her hands and knees.

Other voices. Groaning. Whimpering.

Makita lay sprawled in a broken tangle, blasted across the room. His gray clothing shredded and scorched into tatters. He choked and coughed.

To the other side, Iselle fared little better. Blasted, scorched, a yellow-white bone of her forearm sticking out of her wrenched flesh. One side of her face blistered, her red hair burned, some of it still smoking. She trembled and convulsed in pain and terror.

Naero looked around for Klyne, finding the instructor in a burned, bloody heap, lying beneath a dark red smear on the far wall. His hands charred black. Missing fingers.

Naero could not walk. She couldn
’t even stand.

She crawled to Klyne as quickly as she could.

He still lived, just barely.

Then she noticed the intense effects of the blast. All around the room, less than a meter up.

A massive ring of Cosmic force sliced into the duranadium hull of the smartwalls, punching a deep crease right through them where they buckled, all along its full diameter.

The force of the strike disrupted all systems. The entire training room compacted, crushed, and heavily damaged.

Rescuers struggled to force their way through the various ruined doors and access panels.