Terra Dawning (7 page)

“In that way you would stop the search for us and in so doing, remove the risk of your own discovery. You would have been correct, it would have removed the threat of your imminent discovery, even though you will eventually be discovered.

“However, you didn't find the nest of evil men you thought you would find. Instead, you found a group of humans huddled together for safety against a tyrant that forces them to perform atrocities simply to stay alive.

“Now, you find that you are faced with a dilemma; kill a couple hundred innocent people to ensure your own freedom, or surrender us to the authorities and hope that our reports of you will go unheeded. Perhaps you are hoping that by turning us over, the Emperor will be more inclined to listen to your claim to this planet?

He nodded. “I can well understand your dilemma and I'll offer what aide I can in order for you to make an informed decision. I can only hope that you will choose not to allow our loved ones to die beside us,” he finished.

As usual Mother performed the introductions of the Councilors that had questions.

“Councilor Yoshi wishes to speak.” Ben pointed to the appropriate monitor, helping Elrond face the person questioning him.

“Thank you for helping us today, Captain.” Yoshi said bowing. “As I understand the issues before us; you have left out some important options available to us. We can simply relocate you and hope you remain undiscovered. Although that would seem very improbable at this point.

“We could return you to your base and abandon this instillation. Which would pose some rather tricky logistical issues that we may not be able to solve. Thus still leaving some of us exposed to discovery.

“Or, lastly, we could simply absorb you and your people and shelter you until such time as we are prepared to emerge from our exile. We understand that, by doing the last, we are also becoming accomplices after the fact, to any and all crimes you may have committed, even if we surrender you when we emerge, it would still have an effect on our claim.

“We could also make it so those guilty parties among you turn yourselves in if we offer to shelter and keep your loved ones safe with us.”

“Councilor Yoshi, May I interrupt you? I believe I have some information that we need to have before we continue,” Ben asked. Yoshi bowed his head in acceptance.

Ben read some more on his screen before he sighed. “Councilors, as per the original mission parameters, I had Mother invade and interrogate the pirate base’s computer system. I also added a further objective to her after Captain Elrond and the others were taken, which was to discover any traces of the messages Duke Tammerain had sent to these people.

“She has finished her initial analysis of the information she has gleaned. She has prepared a report for us. It is now available to us, but I would also like her to tell us her findings if you agree.” There were green indicators everywhere so Ben asked Mother to proceed.

“Prime Council, Councilors, and Captain; the information and assumptions in the report are the result of information taken from the pirate base’s main computer system, the main computer systems of the armed freighter, Bittertree, and the armed freighter, Nistian Dew. Further information has been gathered and extrapolated from interviews with Captain Elrond Coir and his companions, as well as testimony given by Addson Dee of pod zero-zero-zero-one-alpha. Additional external research garnered more information via the Imperial Internet known as the Infonet.

“I have discovered and have copied complete and intact messages from the Duke of Tammerain to Captain Coir, the Commander of the Bittertree and later as Commander of the group known simply as 'the pirates'. In these messages, he gives clear and detailed instruction as to the tasks required and makes references to harming other individuals, if the orders are not followed. Although he used an encrypted messaging system as well as voice maskers, I was able to retrieve copies of the original message dictated in his own voice. I would mention that the encrypted messaging and vocal masking system he is using is one developed for the United States Intelligence Services before The Fall.

“In addition to exonerating Captain Coir and his people, this posed more questions, specifically; why would Duke Tammerain do this to his own holdings? Several possibilities present themselves; none of which are as yet definitive.

"Possibility one; the Duke Cassius of Tammerain, who by all reports is perfectly healthy, has been told that he is dying and has begun the destruction of his holdings to leave little for the other Dukes to fight over. Such is the traditional way Dukes come to power among that race.

“Possibility two: although close to the first - differing only in that the Duke has gone insane and believes he is dying. However, this option must be weighed against the fact that no other part of his routine has been affected by this 'illness'.

“Possibility three; this remaining option is equally hard to prove but is also the most probable given the circumstances these actions have created. That the Duke of Tammerain is, in fact, setting the stage to over-throw the Emperor with a military strike at the Capitol of Hyperion Prime.

“Given the current disposition of forces within the Empire and if the Duke could bring all of his troops to this planet; and had a large attack fleet hidden within a light-day of Hyperion Prime, he could accomplish the destruction of the Hyclarion Empire once and for all time,”” Mother finished. "I would point out that the window for this opportunity is beginning to close; every delay risks the discovery of the hypothetical hidden fleet."

“We came to that conclusion too but, what of the Imperial fleets? Even if he managed to take the planet, they would simply return and retake the planet. Duke Cassius is a lot of things, but insane isn't one of them. Besides, why would he order us to kill a Ranger? That would bring more Rangers here resulting in the discovery of the troops he has already stationed here?”” Elrond asked.

“Captain: once the attack on the Capitol begins, the Imperial fleets would never make it to hyperspace. The other Dukes will destroy them, one by one. That would also remove the bulk of the Imperial ground forces, which are in transport ships accompanying the fleets.

“Logically, that would leave only one viable force in the Imperial arsenal that could oppose him or alter the outcome of his coup; the HRO. Given the almost legendary response when one of their own is killed, it would indeed bring a great number of the force to this planet. The very same planet where all of Duke Tammerain's troops are staging in preparation for the assault. If he has his orbital assault carriers in this system stuffed full of Marines, and rest assured, he does, then he could effectively decapitate the Empire within a week,” Mother said, reasonably. “Although it was thought to be a simple mistake made on the part of the Duke, as per Minister Bedouin's suggestion, it now appears as though the Duke had planned the death of a Ranger all along.”

There was silence in the room for a few moments before Ben spoke. “Mother, you said invasion had the highest probability. How certain is it?”

“Prime Council, the invasion plot currently has a probability of eighty-eight point seven-nine percent. It could be adjusted based on further information. Specifically, confirmation of the existence of a war fleet in the position previously outlined. Once the confirmation is attained the probability then jumps to ninety-nine point seven-three-five percent." Mother replied.

Elrond nodded his head. “He has the ships, but the only word I could get on them was that they were close by in a hidden location. The rumor said he has thousands of ships, which means that he has enough firepower, but it also means he has support from other Dukes because there is no way he could have built up that many without someone taking official notice.””

“Mother,” Councilor Carlyle said. “The order to kill or capture yon Ranger lass came in a few days ago. What are the chances yon beastie will become discomfited and do something rash?”

“While the order to kill the Ranger team might have been part of the plan all along, the choice of victim was decided when the Ranger team arrived on the planet. As a part of the Saurian culture of the Duke, the prominent presentation of the genitals is a mark of social status.

“When the Rangers arrived, the Duke insulted the lead Ranger, because she is human. As per her training, she ignored it and proceeded with the standard greeting protocols of the Rangers; which involves an edict from the Emperor demanding compliance with the Ranger's investigation.

"Because she is human, The Duke ignored her and the Edict and moved to push her out of the way to speak to the 'real' team leader. She resisted in a very painful and embarrassing - at least to the Duke - way. She paralyzed him by hatchet-kicking his genitals, then using her enhanced strength, threw him to the ground several feet away.

“While it is embarrassing that this happened at all, it is greatly compounded by the fact that it was a human female that did it. The Duke's honor demands satisfaction, but her position in the Rangers makes the outcome a foregone conclusion.

“I have done a great deal of research on the Rangers. Just to be clear; on matters of Honor, if she were to die in a duel, the Rangers would not retaliate in honor of their fallen comrade. However, in a duel with anyone other than another Ranger, he would have to be very lucky and the Ranger would have to be very sloppy for her to lose.””

“Thank you, Mother, you have certainly given us much to think upon,” Ben said. Then turned to the Council at large. “Brothers and Sisters, the whole picture has changed for us. I would make a motion to retrieve the rest of Captain Coir's people and offer them the option of joining our community.

“That, however, only answers part of this problem. What do we do with the rest of the information we have just learned. Would presenting this to the Rangers be a viable option? If we do nothing, how long do we have before the Duke will be ready to begin his attacks? Do we have sufficient resources to protect ourselves if the Duke discovers us first? These are critical decisions that we must deal with and decide as soon as possible.

“If you approve my motion, I suggest we adjourn for a brief period so I may issue orders and allow Captain Coir to return to his people and get them ready to move. The longer they remain exposed, the higher the chances of discovery or retaliation by the Duke.”

“Councilor Andre Stienbrunner, Pod eight-seven-seven-one.”

Ben nodded to the man. “Welcome, Brother.”

The man bowed. “Shalom, Prime Council. I would second your motion and agree with the intermission, however, I ask that it not be longer than ninety minutes. I feel a great urgency in this and our decisions will very well affect all of our lives permanently.”

All the lights in the chamber were green expressing unanimous agreement. “Very well, we will recess for ninety minutes, so we might ponder the questions that face us. Until then my Brothers and Sisters, may wisdom guide us.”

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“Why?”

- Any two-year-old

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B
edouin residence

Command Pod Alpha One

24 Apr. 10266 CE (AD)

Sector 34871 - Great Inland Sea

Earth, Sol system

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“C
aptain, would you please accompany me?” Ben asked.

“Of course, Prime,” Elrond said.

Ben turned to Jorga. “Love, could you please pass the word for General Greenwold, as well as the rest of Elrond's companions. Have them meet us in my office,” Ben asked and Jorga immediately issued the orders through the network. ““Oh! And we're going to need Deirdre as well.”

Elrond smiled. “I can see why you're the leader now. You're damn good at it!”

Ben snorted as they got onto the elevator. “No, it only means I haven't screwed up and gotten anyone killed yet.”

“That's gonna happen no matter what you do, Ben. However, I honestly think you are the kind of person that will do his best to not only make sure of minimal losses, but also make sure it won't happen again,” Elrond explained. “Of all the people I know, and I know a lot of people, I can honestly say if anyone is going to get us through this, you will.”

“I appreciate your faith in me, but I hope you can understand that I honestly don't see the same things that you, and apparently everyone else, sees in me. All I've been doing is reacting to situations that have come up. I know enough about how things work to know that path leads to bad things,” Ben replied.

Elrond snorted. “Says who? Trouble comes whether you're ready for it or not. It's when you go looking for it that it is easily found. There is nothing wrong with reacting to adverse situations. In fact, it tends to make sure your actions are more decisive and less likely to cause a negative reaction.”

“Okay, I'm getting a headache!” Jorga said. “I'm getting some lunch.”

“Why don't you join the rest of us in my office, sweetheart? I'd like you there for this discussion,” Ben said, taking her hand.

“Okay, since you asked nicely,” she flirted.

“Prime, I was serious when I said that if you are going to be trying to get the human race a home world we would support you in it. I think it's a dream of every human, everywhere, to have a home world and finally have some status in the Empire,” Elrond said.

“Yeah, but if we succeed, how many of them will want to come running home? We can't risk the same ecological disaster we had before the Sal'andori Invasion. We have to do it smarter this time,” Ben replied.

“The Sal'andori? You actually know of them? They're mostly a scary story told to younglings to get them to behave!” Elrond said.

“Someday, when we have time to relax, I can show you years of war with them and with the Saurians, or Lizarrus, or whatever they are,” Ben replied.

“That was mentioned in our last discussion, did I hear correctly that you were actually beating them?" Elrond asked. "No one survives a Lizard Marine assault."

Ben shook his head. "As far as I can tell, they didn't use their Marines here. But to be fair, the planet had already begun to change and the global temperature had dropped significantly. The Commanding General noted that as a contributing factor to their battles with the Lizards. Honestly, it's a rather long tale."