Storm' Fury: The Shenkar War (66 page)

              Alyssa’s mouth hung open slightly as she listened to Leah’s story.

              “So it is true, he has healed someone who died, I heard the rumors but didn’t know what to make of them. So he can heal people, move objects with his mind and from what I had understood unleash a heavy electrical assault. Almost as if he was shooting lightning at someone, correct?”

              Leah only nodded a confirmation.

              “Can he do anything else?” asked Alyssa, clearly intrigued.

              Leah did not say anything, only thought of the last time she had been in Liam’s quarters on Earth. They had been planning a romantic dinner and when she went to light the candles they sparked to life on their own. When she questioned Liam about this he only smiled and handed her a glass of wine. She also had witnessed him levitating himself as he moved around the room. This ability took great concentration and she had been able to disrupt it by throwing pillows at him. When he had attempted to deflect the pillows with his mind he quickly sank to the floor. She knew Liam did not want anyone to know his abilities were growing, especially the scientists. They were always looking for an excuse to experiment on him, something he was dead set against.

              “I haven’t witnessed any other abilities but that does not mean there isn’t any,” Leah lied as she looked ahead.

The sadness was not that she could possibly not see Liam again, although that was a small part of it, but instead that she knew Liam would unleash destruction on a scale never before seen in order to get her back. She worried what that would do to his sanity as well as his health. There still wasn’t any extensive testing on possible long term effects the nanites could have on the human body. Some scientists speculated the constant neural activity could eventually burn out the human brain, effectively melting the brain from within. This was just a hypothetical theory but it was one she did not want to witness or be part of.

Her thoughts were interrupted from a soft touch at her shoulder. Turning she saw that Alyssa had laid her hand upon her shoulder, her face showing concern on a level that Leah would not have expected.

“Don’t worry, we will get you back to him and don’t worry about our commander. If he is as strong, as rumors say, then I would direct your worry for these Shenkar as they do not know what they have done.”

Leah gave a slight smile as she reached up and slightly squeezed the hand on her shoulder.

“Thanks, I appreciate the comforting words.”

The pair sat in silence for several long minutes before Alyssa spoke up suddenly, her voice cheerful once again.

“Hey, can I be one of your bridesmaids?”

Leah laughed slightly.

“Sure, although we haven’t even remotely planned anything yet so who knows when it will actually happen.”

“That’s okay, I can wait and I will gladly help you plan your wedding if you want.”

Leah smiled and gave Alyssa’s hand another squeeze. Alyssa smiled and then stood up and stretched.

              “How do you think Lieutenant Wellmo is? I hope they are not torturing him.”

              “Me too, but it would not surprise me from what I have heard of this Shelecore. We need to hold out as long as possible, Liam will come for us, that I have no doubt.

January 31
st
, 2014 11:10pm EST

Lykaa

              As soon as the doors swung open, Shizta quickly stepped inside. He spotted the overlord standing over the limp form of a human that lay upon the floor. Another Shenkar stood nearby, wiping blood from his hands. Both turned to see who the newcomer was as Shizta approached.

              “Overlord Viero, I am Overlord Shizta Flezinia, I believe you are holding three humans prisoner? I am here to take them into custody in the Shelecore’s name and to have them transported back to homeworld,” Shizta said in his most official and commanding voice that he could muster.

              Viero eyed Shizta for several moments before cocking his head to the side.

              “I know you, you are on the Shelecore’s inner war council. Last I heard you were part of the second failed assault on the human homeworld so how is it you are here?”

              Shizta fought the flutter inside of him. How is it this backwards planet already knows of the failure of the second attack.

              “What I am doing here or where I have been is none of your business. I am here on official business by command of the Shelecore himself. You are to turn over the three prisoners and arrange for travel to homeworld for me.”

              “Arrange for travel? Do you not possess a ship? You had to have travelled here somehow so how is it you are here?”

              Shizta allowed annoyance to show upon his face from Viero’s questions.

              “My mission is of the utmost importance and not for your low level clearance but if I must tell you to move this along then I will, but it is for your ears only,” explained Shizta, his eyes drifting to the inquisitor for the latter part of the explaination.

              Viero looked to his inquisitor, nodded, and then waved him away. The inquisitor gathered up his tools of his practice and left the room. Shizta watched him go before turning back to Viero.

              “Until recently, I was held prisoner by the humans. I pretended to be swayed by the human plight but I can assure you I am loyal to the Shelecore. I was able to gather technical information on their military as well as their personnel. At the first opportunity I was able to escape by convincing my captures that I could facilitate the release of these humans you have captured.  As for the forces attacking your base here? It is from a small expeditionary force based out of a class of warship they designated as
Leviathan
class. If you are unfamiliar with the specs on it I can assure you it dwarfs our late dreadnaught by more than a substantial amount. The firepower on board is enough to destroy two command ships; this is a fact I have been unfortunate to witness. The warship also carries a small army aboard her, this is the forces you will be engaging soon here and are responsible for the capturing and destruction of the orbital stations. She is supported by three frigate class warships of a new design our military is unfamiliar with. I can assure you while this force may be small they can inflict heavy casualties if they choose to.”

“And what of these stories of
Templar
knights who are unstoppable?” Viero asked.

              “The humans die just like us. In fact, most of the human forces present on the planet would die quickly to our forces in one on one combat. However, these
Templar
knights you have heard of are a formidable foe. The strongest among them is called Commander Liam Brennan, also known as
Arch Angel
. I am sure you are familiar with the stories of a human that slaughtered the entire crew of one of our battlecruisers?”

              “Yes, of course, it is merely a tale to scare children…” Viero began.

              “You are wrong, he is real and he is on this planet. He is this Commander Brennan.” interrupted Shizta.

              “Surely the reports have been exaggerated?” Viero asked.

              “No, I have witness the footage and seen the aftermath first hand. He is the most dangerous human alive. If we eliminate him then it would be demoralizing to the humans. But even killing him would not make our war easier, we must find a way to even the odds against these
Templars
. What you may not know is they have been enhanced with Meshtrell technology; this is what makes them such skilled warriors. If we were able to some how use that technology on our own warriors then perhaps we could final destroy these humans once and for all. This is the reason I am to transport the three humans to homeworld.”

              Viero seemed to think this over for several moments before he opened his mouth to respond. However, before he could respond, a weak voice spoke up from the floor, only saying one word.

              “Traitor.”

              Both Shenkar turned to look down at Tim who lay upon the floor, forgotten for the moment. Shizta smiled a wicked smile as he kneeled down infront of Tim. Once he was closer he saw that one of Tim’s eyes was completely swollen shut, his face was badly beaten and covered in his own blood.

              “You think me a traitor?”

              “Liam trusted you, he even called you a friend. Was it all a lie?” Tim said through blood encrusted lips.

              Shizta laughed as he looked at Tim.

              “Of course it was all a lie, do you think I could be swayed so easily? While I may disagree with some of the Shelecore’s choices, I am loyal to the federation. You humans and your allies will be destroyed and the Shenkar will reign as the superior race over all lesser beings.”

              “And what of Cryta? Do you plan to slaughter your own people?”

              The smile upon Shizta’s face slid from his face at hearing the question. Instead of answering he stood and turned to Viero.

              “Do you have any elites stationed upon Lykaa?”

              “No, why do you ask, and what is this talk of slaughtering our own people?”

              “It is not widely known but there is a faction with the Shenkar population that wishes to remove the Shelecore from power and form a new government. One that would work with the other races instead of ruling over them.”

              “You can’t be serious? Work with lesser races? How absurd, they do not possess the intelligence for making the correct decisions.”

              “Maybe so but the fact of the matter is the faction exists and we need to eliminate it. I would like to capture Cryta if possible as he would have knowledge of others within the faction. However if he is killed there would be no consequences. I know some of his loyal friends, I am sure I could obtain the information from one of them.”
              “What would you have of me?” Viero asked.

              “Have a gunship prepared, I wish to depart as soon as possible. For now have someone bring me to where the two female prisoners are located. I wish to speak with them, maybe they would be more forthcoming than the prisoner you have here,” Shizta explained, indicating Tim.

              “Do you wish me to kill this one?” Viero asked as he took a step towards Tim, while removing a wicked looking blade.

              Shizta pretended to think it over for several moments before shaking his head in a negative manner.

              “No, he still maybe be useful, perhaps some of the Akron scientists will wish to dissect him when I get him to homeworld. I do not know what would happen to the Meshtrell technology within him if he were to perish so I think it is best we keep him alive, for now.”

              Viero seemed disappointed but replaced the blade and stepped away from Tim.

              “Now, please summon someone to escort me to where the two females are being held, as I said, I wish to speak with them.”

              Viero nodded and touched a device located at his wrist. A few moments later a Shenkar entered the chamber and quickly approached.

              “Take Overlord Flezinia to the holding cells, he wishes to see our other two prisoners. Follow the standard protocols for high command.”

              The Shenkar hesitated for a moment then saluted and indicated for Shizta to follow him.

              The pair walked in silence for several minutes before Shizta’s curiosity forced him to speak.

              “What are these standard protocols for high command the overlord was speaking of?”

              “I am to allow you to be alone with the prisoners if you wish. Any of our monitoring devices are to be shut down, allowing you total privacy.”

              Shizta nodded to the guard but otherwise said nothing as he followed his escort.

              They moved through the quiet passageways of the Shenkar compound, passing no others which surprised Shizta. Typically Shenkar facilities are always busy with activity and heavily guarded. To move throughout such a facility as they did was unheard of. This would make his job much easier or at least he hoped it did.

They had walked for perhaps ten minutes before the guard stopped before a non-descript door and opened a hidden panel on the wall next to the door. Inside revealed a keypad with palm reader to which he quickly inputed a seven digit code and placed his palm to the reader. A blue glowing line traveled down the reader and back up before the door chimed, signaling the lock mechanism disengaging. The door slowly opened and the guard waved Shizta to enter.