Storm' Fury: The Shenkar War (42 page)

              “It also has long fangs,” said another technician as he held a clawed hand to his mouth and pointed two fingers downward to mimic fangs.

              Steve almost laughed at the memory of one of his favorite Monty Python movies popped into his mind of a John Cleese trying to explain the dangers of a rabbit.

              “Now only if I had a holy hand grenade,” Steve mumbled to himself as he studied the opening that led into the side of the drive engine.

              “I am sorry but we are not allowed to carry grenades per order of the Shenkar Federation,” explained the guard.

              Steve couldn’t help stare at the Cathergon guard at his seriousness.

              “I was being sarcastic, I don’t really want to throw a grenade in there.”

              “Then why wish for one?”

              “Are you serious or are you just trying to drive me crazy?” Steve asked incredulously.

              “Why would we seek to drive you crazy when we need your help to repair our drive engines?” the guard asked with perfect seriousness.

              Steve opened his mouth to retort but then clamped it shut, threw up his hands and looked at the ceiling as he spoke out loud.

              “If I was a religious man this definitely would be a test of faith.”

              At this point all the technicians and the guard stepped forward closer to Steve and looked up to the ceiling.

              “Is there someone up there you are speaking too?” one of the technicians asked.

              “What? No…I was just…it is….oh nevermind, right now we need to figure out how to get rid of those Turrin. I think someone is going to have to go in there and clear them out,” Steve explained as he looked around at his audience.

              Neither the guard nor the technicians volunteered for this duty but instead looked up at Steve expectantly. A sour taste filled the back of Steve’s mouth, knowing he was the one that was going to have to go in there. Sighing heavily he walked to the spot where the panel had been removed and crouched down to peek in. Nothing moved inside the small corridor that he could see but he could have sworn he heard something scurrying around inside.

              “All in the name of building bridges,” Steve muttered to himself as he crawled inside.

              As he was crawling deeper into the corridor he heard one of the technicians speak up.

              “Doesn’t he know we are not building a bridge?”

January 26
th
, 2013 12:22am EST

Cathergon freighter,
Farrow
, Shenkar Federation space

              Captain Frozt sat down on what looked to be a stool while indicating for the others to do the same. Liam and Cryta took two stools opposite the Captain, a heavy dark metal table between them. However, Liam did notice that the guard remained by the doorway, directly behind them. This was beginning to annoy him as he knew for their two races to work together there must be complete trust…..something he needed to rectify now.

              “Captain Frozt, I can assure you that we have no intention to harm you or any of your crew, so the need to place a guard directly behind us is irrelevant. In fact, if I wanted to hurt you this one guard could not stop me,” Liam stated as he lifted a hand above him.

              As he said this, he focused his mind on the energy that surrounded the weapon and tugged forcibly. Not expecting for something like this to happen, the weapon flew free of the guard’s loose grip, through the air to land in Liam’s outstretched hand. The captain’s face shown with complete surprise and disbelief at Liam’s demonstration.

              Calmly, Liam set the weapon on the table, then slowly slid it across the table to the captain, withdrew his hand and calmly folded them one across the other upon the table.

             
The captain looked down at the weapon then back up at Liam and Cryta before nodding to the guard. Liam heard the sound of the retreating footsteps as the guard left the room.

              “You humans are quite full of surprises.”

              “Thank you,” Liam said with a smile.

              “I would like to know more about your people, I cannot think of a time when a Shenkar warship was destroyed…at least not in one on one combat. What are your intentions for the Shenkar Federation? Also you stated this Shenkar is working with you to eliminate the Shenkar Shelecore, I apologize but this I find very hard to believe.”

              Before Liam could answer, Cryta spoke up, the slight sound of irritation within his voice.

              “Not all of my people agree with the way our government rules over other races. Many believe every race deserves to rule over their own people and diplomatic channels should be established. The military forces you typically encounter are mindless clones that follow orders without question led by those that are loyal to the Shelecore,” Cryta explained.

              “If, as you say is correct, then why have we never heard any rumors of Shenkar dissent within their own population? Or better yet, why have your people not risen up and overthrown the Shelecore?”

              Liam couldn’t help but notice the defiance this Cathergon showed, clearly the submissive race they had first presented themselves as was more of a ruse than truth.

              “Let me ask you something before I answer those questions. Any time any of your people protest the Shenkar policies, what happened to them?” Cryta asked firmly.

              “You know the answer to that. Your people drag the dissidents into the center of the cities and publicaly execute them.”

              “Exactly, so if the military can root out any dissidents within another race then how close do you think they watch their own people? Believe me, many have questioned the Shelecore rule but when they do they are not executed publically, instead they disappear in the night…along with their entire family. Our group is not large enough to overthrow the current military but with these humans help I believe we can end the current Shenkar regime.”

              Captain Frozt studied Cryta, his expression clear that he was not sure whether to believe Cryta but Liam could also see there was also a hint of hope there as well. Finally he turned his attention back to Liam.

              “Am I to assume your intentions are to help the Shenkar overthrow the current regime?”

              “You would be correct in that.”

              Frozta sat back slightly looking between the two before he spoke again.

              “How many warships did you bring with you?”

              Liam sighed as he knew his answer would not satisfy the captain.

              “We have four warships currently present in or near Shenkar controlled space.”

              Captain Frozt made a hissing sound that could only be interpreted as laughing as he shook his head negatively side to side for a moment.

              “You cannot be serious? Four warships would not even scratch the Shenkar fleet.”

              “I can assure you those four warships could do more damage than you could possibly imagine. One of those ships is responsible for the destruction of two Shenkar command bases. The man sitting next to me is responsible for single handedly killing the entire crew of a Shenkar battle cruiser. These humans have defeated a Shenkar Dread fleet and another fleet that your entire planet could not defeat. I can assure you, these humans are a serious concern for the Shelecore,” Cryta said, his voice daring the captain to challenge him.

              This statement clearly was not what the Cathergon captain had expected to hear as the look of surprised and a bit of awe shown upon his face as if seeing Liam in a new light.

              “What do you need from my people?” Frozt asked.

              “Well, I would not be the one to negotiate with but offhand I would say we could use your freighters to move about the Shenkar Federation in secret to contact others who might wish to join with us. I will not lie too you, our fleet took serious damage in the last battle with the Shenkar. We are currently working to repair and rebuild our fleet but it will take time. Also, we are only one planet, which means we are limited to what we can bring to bare against the Shenkar Federation. I can assure you that what we can bring will give the Shenkar serious trouble but we cannot do this alone.”

              Frozt sat back at Liam’s explanation, clearly hoping to hear something better.

              “I would like to help you but my people are not warriors, we do not possess warships like yours.”

              At this Cryta leaned forward, puzzlement clearly upon his face.

“Perhaps I misheard but what do you mean you do not possess warships like the humans? That would indicate you did possess warships…just not like theirs.”

              At this point the Cathergon captain looked uncomfortable, clearly realizing he had said something he hadn’t meant to.

              “You must have misheard me or I misspoke, we are traders and do not possess the means to go to war.”

              This made Liam realize something, if the Cathergons were not supposed to possess the means go to war then why did they have energy weapons.

              “If this were true then what is that?” Liam said, indicating the weapon on the table.

              At this point the Cathergon captain looked to be very uncomfortable, clearly trying to think of what to say but at a loss. Several moments passed before the captain’s shoulders slumped in defeat.

              “You do possess weapons, don’t you?” Cryta stated, no doubt in his voice.

              “Yes,” the captain said sheepishly.

              Cryta continued to stare at Frozt but otherwise said nothing. It was at this point Liam remembered something Cryta had said earlier.

              “What are you doing in this system? You are traders by nature and from what Cryta has told me this area is not one of the trade routes for you merchants so there is no reason why you should be here. Also, come to think of it, what is your cargo? You nearly burned out your engines trying to get away from that Shenkar.”

              The captain sighed heavily as he looked between the two before standing up.

              “We are carrying energy rifles as well as ship parts. As for where we were going, there really isn’t any point of lying, we were headed to an asteroid base my people have set up outside of Shenkar space. I think at this point I believe they would lend their support, albeit, a meager one. If you wish I could guide you and you may meet with my superiors.”

              Liam nodded and extended his hand, the Cathergon captain looked at the extended hand but did not move to accept it, instead a look of baffled look shown upon his face.

              “It is a human tradition; you accept the preoffered hand in yours where you then shake them vertically. This signifies a sort of contract between the two participants that is formed,” Cryta explained.

              Captain Frozt again looked at the extended hand before slowly extended his clawed hand to grip it. Liam shook the captains hand firmly then slowly released.

              “I accept a meeting with your people although it should be with our official ambassador as he would be the one your superiors would want to conduct negotiations with.”

              “Very well, Commander Brennan, notify your people they may meet with us at our base.”

              A chime in Liam’s earpiece drew his attention. Reaching up he keyed the communication device.

              “This is Brennan, go ahead.”

              Steve’s muffled voice filled his ear.

              “Commander, I have corrected the issue with the Cathergon drives engines. It was a burned out capacitor. The Cathergon freighter can power up their drives at any time now.” Steve explained, his voice sounding slightly strained.

              “Excellent Lieutenant, meet us on the bridge, I need you to link the freighters navigation system with our own.”

              There was a short pause before Steve responded, his voice sounding a bit strained.

              “Yes commander, but could I make a run to the ship first? I need to take care of something.”

              “I would rather this gets done right away, we need to get underway before the Shenkar come investigating why their destroyer hasn’t checked in.”

              Silence filled the connection for several moments before Steve’s voice came again.

              “I will be right there.”