Storm' Fury: The Shenkar War (48 page)

              The room grew silent as everyone took in what Steve had explained. The Cathergons looked especially discomforted at this recent turn of events.

              “Were you aware that there were Cathergons, within your group, that were so loyal to the Federation?” asked Kelvin, directing his question at no Cathergon in particular.

              The Cathergons looked at each other before any of them spoke up.

              “We thought we had been careful, we believed we had screened out any possible threat to our plans,” explained Betz.

              “Clearly, your screening process needs some review,” Steve stated flatly.

              “Clearly,” muttered Wurr as he looked to the high priest who had spoken up at the sight of his disheveled priest.

              The priest attempted to look indignant but failed and only ended up looking sheepish.

              “Lieutenant Barrows, could you tell me if any of the ones you killed were military, priest or worker?” asked Betz.

              Steve seemed to think this over for a few moments as he studied the uniforms and robes of the Cathergons infront of him.

              “Four were wearing robes but the other three, including the one that snuck up behind me, wore the uniforms that your dock workers were wearing.”

              Betz seemed relieved slightly at hearing this as he turned to the High priest.

              “Hetra is of the Gondar sect, which has always been a sect that in the past has embraced Shenkar rule, do you think the others are of the same following?”

              The high priest thought this over for a moment as he studied the disheveled priest before he nodded slowly to himself.

              “I would need to see the rest of the bodies but I believe this could be the case. I had reservations about bringing him into the fold but we had hoped to have a unified delegation of all our sects when we launched our war against the Shenkar. This would have gone along way to the rest of the populace we were all in agreement of our desire for freedom.”

              “I can take you to the bodies if you wish, my nanites have already repaired most of the damage my body has sustained so the trip will not be too uncomfortable.” Steve explained.

              “Thank you Lieutenant, the sooner we confirm this, the sooner we can root out any further trouble makers,” High Captain Wurr stated.

              With that said, Wurr, the high priest and the Earth delegation left with Steve to go and examine the bodies while Betz took over guarding Hetra.

              Liam stood and walked over to the pair and leveled a stare at Hetra. Hetra stared back defiantly at first but under Liam’s steady gaze he soon wilted and looked away. Turning to Betz he smiled slightly and gave a quick wink before speaking.

              “I can find out how many followers are left upon the station if you wish.”

              Betz’s gaze shifted from Liam to Hetra in confusion for a moment before the realization of the meaning of Liam’s earlier wink dawned on him.

              “Yes, I think that would be okay but please try not to kill him,”  Betz said, his gaze falling on Hetra as he attempted to shrink back away from Liam.

              “I will try but if he does not wish to cooperate then it is a distinct possibility,” Liam stated flatly.

              As he stepped closer he raised a hand in front of him and slowly bent his fingers to a clawed appearance. As he did this he concentrated slightly and soon his hand gave off the blue nimbus of electrical current. The immediate smell of ozone filled the air as he stepped closer, extending this glowing hand. Hetra had been there when Liam had given his demonstration, he knew the destructive power he could unleash.

              “I am not going to lie, this will hurt….a lot.”

              Hetra had pushed back as far as he could within his chair as the clear signs of fear filled his face.

              “You can’t do this! We are not a race that tortures for information!” Hetra exclaimed, looking to Betz for help.

              “You are correct,” Betz said calmly.

              Herta’s face relaxed slightly at hearing this but his relief was shortlived as Betz continued.

              “We do not torture for information but Commander Brennan is a human and I cannot say what humans will do to obtain information.”

              Herta’s head snapped from Liam to Betz as hearing his words and then back to Liam’s glowing hand, which was coming dangerously close now.

              “Okay I will tell you, just keep him back, don’t let him hurt me!” Herta shrilled.

              Liam hesitated a moment longer before stepping back but did not extinguish the glow from his hand.

              “How many are still aboard?” demanded Betz.

              “None! The plan was to meet up, activate the beacon and then steal one of the warships and escape before the Shenkar showed up,” Herta said quickly, his eyes still locked on Liam’s hand.

              “If you are lying to us I will let this human torture you until your screams can be heard on homeworld!” Betz said fiercely.

              “I swear I am being truthful, that is the truth, and we could not convert any others to our cause!” Herta whined, his voice cracking at the thought of being handed over to Liam.

              “Excellent, I thank you for your honesty,” Betz said calmly as he drew an energy pistol, aimed it at Herta and shot him in the head.

              Herta’s head snapped backwards so quickly that Liam fully expected his head to fly off but instead it rolled to the side as Herta’s body slumped in death. Betz calmly replaced his energy pistol and turned to Liam and spoke as he must have noticed the look of surprise that had appeared on Liam’s face at the execution.

              “We do torture but we do not take treason lightly. The only punishment for treason is immediate execution. You have your ways, we have ours and I apologize if I unsettled you any by the act but this is our way.”

              Liam lowered his hand, the glow dissipating, as he stepped back to lean against the table behind him.

              “I would not have tortured him nor would I have executed him but I understand that not every race will view things the same way. There are cultures upon my homeworld that differ from each other so naturally our two races would have differences.”

              Betz sighed heavily as he nodded.

              “I thought I had understood the meaning of your wink and it seems I was correct. I did not expect you to torture him even after the footage I witnessed of you aboard that Shenkar battlecruiser.”

              Liam sighed heavily as he looked over Herta’s limp corpse.

              “I had almost died only to be rescued and tortured by the Shenkar aboard the
Tryliene
. The man I was there to this day still has nightmares of what I did aboard that ship to those Shenkar. That footage is no way near a representation of what the human race stands for. If that is what you are hoping to get with an alliance with my people then you will be sorely disappointed.”

              Betz smiled, a broad genuine smile that Liam would bet had signs of relief within it.

              “I am glad to hear that, commander, to tell you the truth if you were truly a race that could slaughter so indiscriminantly we might have second thoughts with our alliance. It is a relief to know you value life as we do, even if that life is that of a traitor,” Betz explained, indicating Herta at the mention of a traitor.

              “High Captain, how many of this priest’s sect is there? Could they create real problems for us in the future?” Liam asked as he indicated Herta.

              “Herta’s sect should not prove any real threat, they are a radical group who always seemed to not see things for what they are…instead believing the Shenkar know best for us instead of using their own minds to see what anyone with common sense would see. You see, compared to other sects, they are a relatively new political group that has been trying to gather followers with little success. Their belief is the leaders should tell you how to think and we should be dependent on the government.

              “Commander, can you be honest with me on something. What do you believe your real chances are in defeating the Shenkar?”

              Liam thought this over carefully before answering; fearing saying the wrong this could produce a negative result.

              “If we successfully destroy the Shenkar’s ability to manufacture the compound necessary for cloning I would say we stand a very good chance.”

              “And if you fail? If the Shenkar are able to secure the planet before you can destroy the manufacturing plants or sway the Lykaans to your cause?”

              “I would not be able to speculate but if the Shenkar can continuously produce warships and warriors they would eventually wear our forces down to a point we would not be able to keep them off our homeworld. One thing I can say is my people are an incredibly stubborn race. We would rather die than submit to Shenkar rule. The Shelecore will bleed his forces badly to defeat us and in doing so might give another race the time they need to use it to their advantage.”

              Betz nodded and once again looked over at the slumped body of Herta before speaking. Turning back, he walked over to a decanter that rested upon the table and used it to pour a dark blue liquid into two glasses. Replacing the decanter he picked up both glasses and held out one to Liam. Only when Liam had taken the preoffered glass in his hand did Betz speak.

              “I can promise you one thing, Commander; this has become an all or nothing campaign for both of our peoples. We will not sit back anymore and suffer the rule of the Shelecore and his council. When this is over the result will either be the Shelecore and his council have been defeated or both of our homeworlds will burn. Either way we are in for a tough path ahead.”

              At this point he lifted his glass and spoke.

              “To better days and to hopes they come soon for both of our people. May the fire of the warrior burn bright within us, to help in our cause, to win freedom. I salute you and your fellow humans in your willingness to throw yourselves into the fire for the races of the subjugated.”

              “To better days and to freedom,” Liam said as he lifted his glass.

              He sipped cautiously from the glass to discover the liquid held a mild spicy flavor too it. Taking a deeper swallow from the glass created a hot feeling that rushed down his throat and filled his body in pleasant warmth.

              “This is fermented from a rare fruit found upon my homeworld. During the festival of Dalia under the light of the full moon the fruit is harvested and immediately sliced, pressed and sealed in large vats of Kulan milk for three cycles of the moon. Someday, you and I will attend this festival, where we will brew our own batch together,” explained Betz, before he took another deep swallow from his glass.

              “I look forward to the day,” Liam said with a smile.

              As he drank from his cup again he wondered if and when that would ever be. One thing he was sure of was they needed to succeed in the upcoming mission because no matter what he had said earlier, failing would be the number of deaths would be far greater before this war is over.

January 31
st
, 2014 10:13am EST

Cathergon freighter,
Farrow

              Evan, once again, checked the straps that held the device in place, verifying nothing had come loose.

              “That is the tenth time you have checked the straps,” came a voice from behind him.

              Turning, he saw David Brine, a Paladin, leaning against the hatchway, smiling. Evan didn’t say anything but only stared at the lieutenant with a flat unamused look upon his face. David grew uncomfortable and quickly stood at attention, snapping a salute.

              “My apologies, Lieutenant Commander, I just meant there is nothing to worry about.”

              Evan, laughed on the inside, realizing now why Liam would always just stare expressionless at anything he and Steve did till they grew uncomfortable. He found it amusing to watch them squirm which Evan thought was rather evil but still funny.

              Only after a few moments more of watching Brine squirm did Evan smile and speak.

              “It is okay Lieutenant Brine, I’m just overcautious, that’s all. We need to assure this device does not suffer and damage otherwise the Shenkar will be able to signal for reinforcements. If this happens we will be hopelessly outnumbered and this mission will fail.”