Sword Empire (2 page)

Antar stood at the central dais, awaiting their arrival, and nodded for them to take the places that had been left vacant between Zela's crew and the elders of the assembly. Kananda was aware of the curious but not unfriendly glances that followed him as he took his seat. He wore a blue shirt with white waistcoat and leggings, supplied by Laton. With his borrowed clothes and smooth brown face, he knew that he was as much a stranger here as the blue-skinned woman among all these uniforms and formal robes.

Antar coughed briefly to gain attention, and then spoke directly.

“I believe all of us know of the Prince Kananda, who has accompanied Commander Zela on her return trip from the third planet. Because his homeworld will be prominent in our business today, and because I deem it right that he should understand our situation before we ask for the help of his people, I have asked Prime Member Laton to bring him here today. Does any member of the assembly have any objection to this?”

Most of the faces that turned toward Kananda were still gravely curious, but there was no voice of dissent.

“Then may I welcome you to our High Assembly, Prince Kananda.” Antar gave a formal bow.

Kananda was not sure whether he should rise again and bow in return, but Antar was moving briskly on.

“It is rare for an emergency assembly such as this to be called, so most of you have guessed that I have some disturbing news to impart. For many years now, we have countered the threat of full scale Gheddan invasion of Alpha with an array of nuclear and solar-pulse missiles. They are capable of crossing the Great Storm Ocean and destroying all their major cities and war-base centres. The Gheddans have also succeeded in building up a similar array of rocket-launched weapons that could virtually wipe our continent of Alpha from the face of this planet.”

There were a few solemn nods, but most of his listeners remained impassive, and Kananda realized that this background detail was mainly for his own benefit.

“The balance of power was always a dangerous concept,” one of the assembly delegates said softly. “So now you are going to tell us that the balance has shifted.”

Antar nodded briefly. Whatever emotions he felt on the matter were masked behind his grim, lean face. “Yes, Prime Member Allor, the balance has shifted. We have known for several years that the Gheddans have been trying to build a lazer battle station which they can maintain in geostationary orbit above the planet's surface. They believe that with such an orbital battle platform they can use lazer pulses to destroy our missiles between launch and impact. Thus we will be defenceless to a first strike attack from their missiles.”

The tall Space Corps Commander paused again, and Kananda heard a muffled choking sound from Laton who sat beside him. Zela's father was swallowing hard and his face had turned pale. Beyond him, the semi-circle of faces of his colleagues were also registering varying levels of distress and anguish.

“They have succeeded,” Laton said at last.

“Twelve hours ago,” Antar confirmed. “Our warning systems detected the launch which placed a major satellite in fixed orbit above the City of Swords. Our other intelligence sources, and the position of the satellite, tell us that this is the lazer battle station they have planned.”

There was a cold, shroud-like silence. Kananda felt their fear and could almost taste it, like a thick dark incense filling the vast assembly hall. Then the delegate Allor spoke again.

“So when can we expect their attack?”

“Not yet.” Antar's lips almost cracked a smile, although Kananda guessed that it was forced to help relieve some of the palpable tension that was stretched almost to breaking point. “Our intelligence suggests two other factors that may save us for a few more weeks. First the Gheddans plan to launch two similar battle stations. The first one alone would not be sufficient to stop all of our war missiles. It protects The City of Swords, and it protects Steel City at the mouth of the Lesser Steel River, and the war bases in between those two cities. However, it cannot also protect their other cities, or the war bases in the Great Gar and Stone Deserts. The second and third battle stations need to be in place before their defence against the possibility of an attack by our weapons is complete.”

“How long do we have before all three of those battle stations are in their appointed positions?” A delegate at the end of the row raised his head from his hand for a moment to ask the faltering question.

“A few weeks,” Antar shrugged helplessly. “A few months. My intelligence is not complete.”

The man who had asked the question groaned audibly and let his head fall back into the support of his hand again.

“You said there was a second factor that might be in our favour,” Allor probed hopefully.

Antar nodded. “The Council of Twelve in the City of Swords is divided. We have made it plain to them that an exchange of these huge war weapons from both sides may well destroy this world for all of us. We made the initial mistake of siting our first missiles in the natural caverns along the foothills of the Greenwall Mountains. We now know that they are too close to a major volcanic fault line, and that Gheddan missiles aimed to destroy them would almost certainly penetrate the planet's crust. If that happens then Alpha would be ripped apart, possibly the whole planet would explode. Dooma would no longer exist, except as an orbiting belt of radioactive asteroids and rubble. Some members of the Gheddan Council of Twelve have accepted that in this we are telling the truth.”

“How many?” Allor asked.

“Four,” Antar said quietly.

“Four out of twelve.” Laton threw up his hands in anguish.

“For a military decision as vital as a major war, their code demands a nine to three vote in favour,” Antar reminded them.

“So the fate of our world depends upon one Gheddan vote,” Laton said bitterly. “What madness have we brought upon ourselves?”

No one answered him, and Kananda guessed that this breast-beating debate had already been held many times. Now the nemesis they had forged was imminent and there was nothing more to be said in self reproach. They could only face the inevitable.

Allor spoke again. “How long before our escape ships can be ready?

“Ten weeks,” Laton answered him. “Perhaps more. Perhaps less if we simply launch them untested.”

Antar looked directly to Kananda. “Now you know our situation. I know Commander Zela has explained much to you, and we are being as honest as we can. We are building six escape ships that will be able to carry some of our people to your planet.”

“There is no other refuge for us.” Allor was also looking directly at Kananda now and his voice was almost beseeching. “The third planet is the only other inhabitable planet in this solar system.”

“I have seen my planet from space,” Kananda said quietly. “I think there must be many good places where your people could settle.”

“Our ships will contain mostly children,” Laton explained. “There will only be enough adults to guide and teach them. Children are smaller and weigh less. The smaller they are, the more we can send. They will need a place of safety and protection.”

“Then they will be welcome in Karakhor,” Kananda assured them. “I can speak in this for my father, Kara-Rashna, King of mighty Karakhor. But I must also be honest with you. My country also has its enemies. Your children will be safe with us, but only if we survive our war with Maghalla.”

“We understand your situation,” Antar acknowledged. He looked to Zela and added, “I did spend several hours yesterday de-briefing your crew. I know that Karakhor is threatened by an alliance of enemies, and also that you encountered and drove off a Gheddan expedition from that city.”

Kananda saw the opportunity to bring up the matter most urgent in his heart and said quickly, “The Gheddan ship that escaped from Karakhor carried off my sister, the Princess Maryam, First Princess of Karakhor. I am here to find her, and to take her home.” He paused, and then finished as forcefully as courtesy to his hosts would allow. “I can assure you that our father will prove more than grateful for the safe return of his beloved daughter. All of Karakhor will be the eternal friends of the people of Alpha.”

Antar nodded slowly. “We detected the return of the Gheddan ship seven days before your own ship landed. The Gheddan vessel was a Mark Five Solar Cruiser. It landed at the Kaz-ar Spaceport near the City of Swords.”

“The Gheddan ship we flushed from Karakhor was a Mark Five,” Zela confirmed.

Laton put a hand gently on Kananda's shoulder. “I am sorry,” he said with genuine regret. “If your sister is still alive and with the Gheddans, then she too will be in the City of Swords.”

“Then I must go there,” Kananda said simply.

“Ghedda is on another continent. We are divided by the Great Storm Ocean. It is not possible.”

“I came here to find my sister,” Kananda repeated firmly. “I will find a way.”

“But how?” Laton demanded.

“I do not know,” Kananda conceded. “I hoped that the people of Alpha would help me. But even if I must do this alone, somehow I will find a way.”

There was a moment of uncomfortable silence, and then Zela said calmly, “You will not be alone, Kananda. I will help you.”

“And I,” Kyle spoke up impulsively.

Laurya smiled at her lover and gripped his hand. “That means that I must come too.”

There was another second of uncertain silence, and then Cadel sighed. “However you intend to get to Ghedda, you will need some kind of vehicle. So you will need an engineer.”

“This is madness.” Laton stared at them all aghast, but mostly at his daughter. “Zela, you cannot do this. What hope have any of you to even survive on that barbaric continent for more than a few hours? You will all be killed long before you can hope to find Kananda's sister.”

Zela faced her father squarely. “Kananda's sister was taken by the Sword Lord Raven,” she told him bluntly. “The same Raven who killed Lorin. The sword-butcher who slew my brother, your son! In helping Kananda, I may get the opportunity to kill Raven. If we can rescue his sister, we can ensure the safe welcome of our children in Karakhor. That gives me two very good reasons to go to Ghedda.”

“It also gives me one very good reason to deny you any involvement in any rescue mission to Ghedda,” Antar cut in sharply. He moved toward her, no longer addressing the full assembly, his gaze locked with her own. “Commander, would you allow your personal desire for vengeance to come before the execution of your duty to Alpha?”

Zela glared at him. Her eyes were angry and slowly she rose to her feet. She hesitated, and then just as slowly raised her palm in the Alphan salute. “You know that I would not.”

Antar nodded and slightly relaxed. “I know, Zela. But I had to be sure.”

He turned then to look at her three crew members. “I must commend all of you for your loyalty to your Commander, and for your willingness to follow her, even to Ghedda. But for what I have in mind, your presence would not be helpful.”

“What do you have in mind?” Laton was on his feet looking anxious. “Antar, you cannot allow these young people to go alone into Ghedda.”

Antar sighed. He had expected this opposition. He both understood and sympathized. He placed a hand on Laton's shoulder. “Old friend, you know that I had two agents working in the City of Swords. Our long range sensory technology does have its limitations. It cannot tell us what is in the hearts and minds of the Council of Twelve. For that I need eyes and ears in the city itself.”

Laton turned slowly, taking full notice of the blue-skinned woman who had so far sat cross-legged and silent at the end of the row of occupied seats. Antar's words had helped to explain her presence. “You are Jayna?” he asked.

The blue-skinned woman nodded in acknowledgement.

“And the second agent?” Laton searched his memory unsuccessfully for a name.

“My husband, Blane, was killed in the City of Swords,” Jayna said flatly. Any emotion she had over the matter was spent and her tone was matter-of-fact and cold.

“I am sorry,” was all that Laton could think of to say, and he knew it was ineffectual.

“It is thanks to Jayna that we have up-to-date information on the mood and the talk in the City of Swords.” Antar favoured the woman with a grateful smile. “We still need that continuing information, and Jayna is willing to return. However, she cannot go alone. Her route into the City of Swords is long and dangerous and requires the use of a rivercraft. Her cover also requires a protector. Blane was both a ground pilot and a good tavern fighter.”

“I can pilot a rivercraft,” Zela said calmly.

Antar nodded. “That will be one of your roles.” He looked to Kananda. “I am told that you are a useful swordsman. You will have two women to protect, and on Ghedda that means you will almost certainly have to prove your skill with a sword, perhaps also with your fists.”

Kananda smiled briefly. “I was instructed by Jahan, Warmaster General of Karakhor. Many of my lessons were long and painful. You will not find my talent lacking.”

“Then you must both understand your priorities. The first is to report back any information you can gather on the military intentions of Ghedda, and especially on any change in the power balance in the Council of Twelve. The second is to keep Jayna alive. She is more valuable than either of you. Third you are to find the Princess Maryam, and if possible, bring her back to Alpha when you return.”

Kananda nodded grim acceptance, although in his mind he knew that whatever happened, Maryam would always be his first priority.

Antar locked eyes with Zela again. “If the Sword Lord named Raven gets in the way of any of these three objectives, then you may kill him. But you will not seek him out in preference to your prime duties.”

Zela scowled a little, but then she too nodded in acceptance of his conditions.