Storm' Fury: The Shenkar War (25 page)

              “My Shelecore, what of the
Blood Fleet
? They are mostly comprised of elites, if word reaches them of what transpires it could create trouble.”

              The Shelecore thought this over for several moments before answering.

              “You might be correct in this assessment, better we do not openly arrest any elites family members. Instead put out word that the elites are wanted for crimes against the government and offer a substantial reward for information that leads to the arrest of any elite but do not threaten any of their family members.”

              Darta felt relief wash through him; he did not look forward to the backlash of arresting family members of the elites would cause. Not because he felt anything for the innocent families but because he would the main target for retaliation. However, his relief was short lived as the Shelecore spoke once more.

              “Instead I want you to assemble groups of your most trustworthy and skilled warriors. I want them to hunt down and kill any member of an elite’s family. We will broadcast that the elites have gone mad and are murdering their own families to protect their own safety. This should drive support up from the civilian population.”

              Darta saluted and withdrew from the Shelecore’s private chambers. He knew this would certainly drive up support for the Shelecore but he worried what the elites would do. If they organized and assaulted in force they could possibly kill thousands before they are put down. If word ever got out that he was responsible for the deaths of so many innocent civilians he would not live long. He vowed to himself he would need to take extra steps to insure his own safety, even if it meant pinning all the blame on the Shelecore.

              A sudden thought occurred to him, perhaps he could benefit from such atrocities. If he could insure that all information was traced back to the Shelecore and only the Shelecore then perhaps he could save this information for the right time. With that right time he could perhaps elevate himself to a much higher stature, maybe even Shelecore himself. He could be bring forth this information at the right time and be considered the hero of the federation.

              With that last thought he smiled a wicked smile to himself and quickened his pace to begin his planning.

January 3
rd
, 2014 5:05pm

EDF
Kraken
, Terran system, high Earth orbit

              Liam looked through the door at Shizta with growing annoyance. At the request of Admiral Kelvin, Liam had been coming up to spend time speaking with Shizta. Unfortunately, the meetings had not been going as well as he had hoped. Shizta was incredibly stubborn and refused to accept anything Liam told him. Liam had explained to him on several occasions that the human race, while capable of waging war, was not naturally a warlike race. They only fought the Shenkar to protect themselves from being destroyed or enslaved. Shizta always countered this with no race that is capable of such destructive capabilities would ever settle for peace. For days this seemed to be the only thing they ever spoke of, neither willing to relent to others views on the subject.

              Today looked to be much like the same and Liam was about to leave. The only reason he hadn’t left yet was his own stubbornness that was driving him. Neither Shizta nor Liam had spoken for several minutes when a sound made them both look up. A groan came from behind Liam, from the cell where the other Shenkar prisoner lay comatose. Only now it seemed the prisoner had awoken.

              The Shenkar struggled to sit up and after several tries he succeeded. At first the Shenkar seemed confused at his surroundings. First, examining his bandages, then he looked around his holding cell before finally noticing Liam sitting just outside. Curiosity crossed his face as he examined Liam in turn. When the Shenkar spoke it was in a croaking raspy voice, vocal cords that hadn’t been used in awhile.

              “You are human? How did I get here? Where is here?”

              Liam thought this over for a few moments and decided if wouldn’t cause any harm to answer his questions.

              “I am Commander Liam Brennan; you are aboard the
Kraken
, flagship to Earth defense force expeditionary fleet. Before I answer how you got here, will you answer a few things for me? What is your name and what do you remember of the battle?”

              The Shenkar thought this over before he nodded an affirmative.

              “My name is Cryta and the last thing I remember is I was aboard the
Xxeata.
We had retreated from battle but something went wrong. I am not sure what happened as I had just entered the command deck when I overheard the communications officer shouting that the human warship had followed us. Explosions shook the ship and the command deck was thrown into chaos. I was making my way towards Gyliene when the holo table exploded. I must have been knocked unconscious as the next thing I know I was waking up here. How I got here I still do not know.”

              “You were found aboard a drifting shuttle after the battle. In case you are wondering, your fleet has been destroyed. I cannot say if anyone else survived but I wouldn’t be surprised if some had. As for wondering who pulled you from your burning warship? The Shenkar in the cell behind me is responsible for saving your life.”

              At this point Cryta leaned a bit to the side to see around Liam. His surprise was evident on his face as his eyes grew wide at the site of Shizta. However, it was Shizta that spoke first.

              “Yes, the hand of the Shelecore saved the life of an elite,” Shizta said, dryly.

              “Why would you? You know the Shelecore has been slowly exterminating the elite, why would you help?”

              Liam was surprised to hear that there was discord between the Shenkar military. They had always struck him as the type to follow orders unfailingly. Never questioning what was asked of them or the superior officer who gave them the order.

              “Call it a moment of weakness. I will make sure I won’t make that mistake again, and the rumors of the exterminations are just that…rumors,” Shizta retorted testily.

              Fire burned in Cryta’s eyes as he stared at Shizta. Liam half expected Cryta to attempt to break through the plasti-steel door but instead he just remained seated. Again to Liam’s surprise it was Shizta who spoke up.

              “Now that we are on the subject of when I saved you, would you like to explain what you were doing on the command deck? You are of the elite which should have put you in a fighter.”

              Cryta smiled maliciously at Shizta.

              “I see no harm in telling you, especially since I now recognize the human in front of me,” looking away from Shizta he turned his attention to Liam.

“It is you who I came to see,
Ghost
.”

              Now it was Liam’s turn to let the surprise show on his face at hearing this. Why would a Shenkar seek out Liam other than to try and kill him? It is possible Cryta planned to invoke
Sheeata
, the Shenkar version of one on one combat to the death, but for some reason Liam doubted this.

              “You were seeking me out? Why?”

              “You are
Dala Dvierik
; you are the one we seek. For a long time there has been unrest within the population of our world. Recently, many of my people have been silenced for their open opinions of how our people must change. A growing movement has begun to work against our government. Many no longer believe we should enslave others to our wills. Many believe we should work through diplomatic channels to create bonds with other sentient races. When the Shelecore finds anyone that may be part of this movement, he silences them. Many of my brothers and sisters have died for our cause. We have searched for longer than I can say for someone who can help us over throw the Shelecore and his underlings.”

              Liam couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Could this opportunity be as good as it seems? A chance to take down the Shenkar government from within?

              “How do I know I can trust you? This is all too great an opportunity to fall into our proverbial laps. Also, you still haven’t explained why you were on the command deck instead of in a fighter. In one of your Shenkar fighters you would have had a better chance of safely defecting to our side. Only by Shizta’s intervention did you end up here.”

              “What you say is all true but I owed a debt to one of my brothers before I defected. I learned it was Gyliene who was responsible for the death of a fellow elite. Vrik was one of the guards who were stationed outside the Shelecore’s meeting chambers. He learned of what had happened to Supreme overlord Krailsha and confronted Gyliene on the subject. He has never been heard from since.”

              “Why would he confront Gyliene about it?” Liam asked curiously.

              But it was Shizta that responded to the question and not Cryta.

              “It is the duty of an elite to report when the Shelecore is not taking the best interests of the people into consideration. The Shelecore withheld the information from the people of how Krailsha and the third fleet were destroyed. Gyliene was the most likely candidate to report to as he was thought to be loyal to the federation and the people.”

              Liam looked from Cryta to Shizta and then back again before he spoke again.

              “I take it Gyliene reported this to your Shelecore?”

              “Either that or he simply removed Vrik himself. Either way he is protecting the Shelecore as are you Shizta!” Cryta said angrily as he pointed at Shizta.

              Something was obviously not being said between the two which peaked Liam’s interest.

              “How is Shizta protecting the Shelecore?” asked Liam.

              “He is part of the Shelecore’s war council. Not to mention he has witnessed the state of the Shelecore’s mind and his instability.”

              “Instability?” asked Liam.

              “I have witnessed the council meetings and overheard much. Several occasions Shizta has seen outbursts by the Shelecore and yet he does nothing. It is blatantly clear the Shelecore has made this personal with no concern for the well-being of the Shenkar Federation.”

              “What would you have me do? Confront the Shelecore and tell him he is not in his right mind? That he is putting his own interests above those of the federation? It would accomplish nothing except getting myself executed,” Shizta retorted angrily.

              Liam looked at Shizta then back at Cryta in increasing interest. If he could find a way to get Cryta to help then they could possibly have the edge they needed to cripple the Shenkar military and force them to surrender. From the way Shizta spoke of the Shelecore he doubted they would be able to get the Shelecore to surrender but maybe they could remove him from leadership. Cryta’s voice shook Liam’s thoughts from this as he spoke up.

              “
Dala Dvirik
, I am only one of many who seek your help. For a long time now the people of my world have been pushing to change. Many feel that our ways of bending other races to our will is not the path we should be following. Diplomacy is the way we feel we should be headed. We cannot continue fighting all those that come before us. More and more of my brothers have been killed to continue the will of the Shelecore. He cares nothing for them; his will is only to dominate all. In his eyes if an elite falls he can just fill their position with one of his cloned warriors. Cloned warriors have no will of their own and do as they are commanded. Sooner or later the Shelecore will turn his cloned warriors upon the people in defiance of their wishes. We will become a race of automatons, bending to the will of a mad leader.”

              Cryta paused as he reached up under his long black hair to the base of his skull at the back of his neck. Gritting his teeth he pulled something free of his skin and held it out for Liam. Looking at the object, he saw it looked to be a data card the size of a thumb nail. It looked very much like a SIM card you would find inside of a cell phone. It seemed to be affixed to piece of Shenkar skin or what looked like skin.

              Liam slid aside a panel to allow Cryta to hand him the card.

              “That data card will provide you with all the information you need to contact those among the growing resistance within my government. I have heard that you have the ability to learn and retain knowledge at an extraordinary rate…is this true?”

              Liam nodded.

              “Then once you have memorized the information upon that data card could you please give me your word you will destroy it? We trust you but we do not know who among your people can be trusted.”