Extinction: The Will of the Protectors Read online

  “And while I am an emperor of the Detrill Empire, you must also be aware that ‘emperor’ is an elected position among my people, and I am not allowed to make a unilateral decision of this magnitude on my own. In fact, Empress Hugany is the only person here who can actually make that decision right now for her people.”

  The empress only nodded but Emily could tell she beamed with pride and ego at the comment Emperor Nogil had made. “He is correct, Steve. I have no need to read the information on your device. I have no inclination whatsoever to agree to your terms.”

  Jenny slither-walked forward and extended one arm slightly. “I would like to make two proposals. The first is that we follow the president’s suggestion to adjourn until dinner and then come together again, dispensing with all political conversations. We are vastly different species with a nearly completely separate galactic history; there are plenty of other things we can discuss with one another.”

  Jenny paused until she saw the president nod in agreement. “Secondly, I would like to offer you two pieces of strategic intelligence in reference to the warriors.”

  The president sat forward. “I’m sorry, but I can’t help but interject here. This is exactly what we are talking about: helping each other, cooperating without submission.”

  “You misunderstand,” Jenny said. “Our offer isn’t to help you. It is to show you the extent of our technological and military abilities. We will provide you with military intelligence to show you that we are more aware than you are of what is going on in this galaxy. We will also provide you with military assets to react to two separate and currently active warrior threats, to show you our superior assets.

  “If you are successful in defeating the two warrior incursions into your Coalition, it will, of course, be beneficial to us. If you are or are not successful, you will, either way, see that you cannot hope to win against the warriors, even if they were the only threat you had to worry about. Which, of course, they aren’t.”

  Mike had read the latest intelligence briefings before this meeting and he knew the Coalition was not aware of any warrior incursions. “I’m sure we are aware of whatever intelligence you are speaking of, but please, enlighten us.” He bluffed.

  Jenny produced another tablet and pushed it forward. “The warriors have landed on a Shirka birthing planet in Sector 7 of the Coalition. The solar system is claimed by the Shirka government and devoid of anything useful other than the one planet that can sustain life.”

  Fang growled. “Why would they attack our cubs? We have dozens of birthing planets. The loss of one would not cripple our people, only enrage us.”

  Jack put his hands together. “You are aware that the warriors have a fairly simple but specific diet. They require large amounts of fresh animal protein. Live animal protein. They cannot survive on packaged foodstuffs.”

  Emily knew where this was going. “The Shirka birthing planets are absolutely full of wild game. It’s the only way their young can grow and learn to hunt. Taking a Shirka birthing planet would gain them an entire planet to use as a grocery store. And, Shirka birthing planets have absolutely no cities or other infrastructures on them. Just landing ports all over the planet so parents can drop off their birthing sacks and then come back to collect their cubs several months later.”

  “Wait a second.” Seth turned towards Fang. “Wouldn’t every Shirka parent in the area come and kick some warrior ass if they tried to take over the planet? Every Shirka is a born warrior; even their weaklings are pretty damned scary.”

  Fang dug his claws into and almost through the desk he sat at. “Our laws and customs would not allow us to attack the warriors after they landed on the planet. Once they were there, if the cubs could not defend themselves, then they would not be considered worthy to survive. Cubs must defeat all predators on their own, regardless of origin, if they want to join their family.”

  “The other piece of intelligence,” Jenny said, “is concerning the Detrill Empire. They have a secret shipbuilding facility in an unclaimed system near their home world.”

  Emperor Nogil shifted slightly. The president came to his aid. “The Detrill are not Coalition members; they have no obligation to tell us about any of their facilities. In the spirit of fairness, I would appreciate it if you did not share state secrets of other nations. If they wanted us to know about the facility, they would have told us.”

  “Thank you, sir,” Emperor Nogil said. “But my uneasiness isn’t because they told you of our facility, but because I recently learned that we lost communications with that shipyard less than two days ago. We are in the process of investigating why.”

  “We know why.” Jenny continued, “The warriors have launched a strike on that facility to take control of it.”

  Emperor Nogil sat still for a moment. “Mr. President, that facility is the most important shipyard there is to the Coalition and Detrill Empire. It represents decades of research and development.

  “It is located in a binary star system that has a very unique astrological anomaly. The details aren’t important at the moment, but the end result is there are three moons that grow a crystalline metal that can’t be found anywhere else as far as we know.

  “This metal will be used to build the next generation of starships. It has properties that will allow us to break speed barriers that our current fabrication processes can’t handle. The warriors can’t be allowed to have that technology or destroy our ability to use it.”

  The president looked at Steve. “Now we have the intelligence. Why do we need you to act on it?”

  “Sir, if I may?” Emily spoke up.

  “Go ahead, Captain.”

  “I’ve been reviewing their data. The distance to each of these events is at least several weeks traveling time from where we are right now.”

  “Then your teams should leave immediately.”

  “Sir, I believe the other part of the Cherta offer, the one about letting us use military assets,” Emily slowly continued, “the offer is for us to use their ships to get us to these incursions.”

  “You are correct, Captain Riley.” Jenny didn’t exactly gloat, but Emily thought it was a close enough description of the Cherta’s expression. “We can have you to the Shirka birthing planet in two Earth standard days, and to the Detrill facility in four. If you wish us to.”

  The president turned to Emily and Seth. “Regardless of how we decide to get you there, both teams need to prepare to depart this vessel within the next four hours. Captain Riley, your team will be heading to the Detrill shipyard. Captain Fields, your team will take on the warriors at the birthing planet. Make whatever adjustments to your team rosters as you see fit and any gear that you need will find its way to you, just ask.”

  “Yes, sir!” Seth and Emily said in unison. The soldiers left the briefing room and headed to the cargo bay that held their equipment.

  “Now,” the president turned back to the Chertas, “let’s talk brass tacks here.”

  Chapter 4

  Seth took a knee as Surgeon and Fang took up positions on either side of him. Seth looked at Fang and received a growl in return. “What?”

  Fang narrowed his eyes at Seth. “I already explained why I am without clothes. Do you need to continue to stare at me?”

  “I say this with all possible sincerity and respect, Fang; I’ve never seen a Shirka without clothes on, and honestly, you’re a damned impressive species. Your uniform hides your true coloring and musculature. I apologize for teasing you before, especially if it offended your honor or species.” Seth hadn’t worked with a Shirka before, but he knew they had a deeply ingrained sense of honor and he wasn’t sure whether he had stepped over any lines when Fang entered the drop pod naked.

  “I’m not offended, just annoyed.” Fang snorted. “Humans can be insufferable to work with at times.”

  “No argument there, buddy.” Surgeon pulled up a map on his datapad. “We are at the rendezvous coordinates the Shirka commandos are supposed to meet us at. Th
ey should be here any moment now.”

  “Will they also be without weapons?” Seth was glad he and his team were allowed by the Shirka government to retain their weapons for this mission. Fang opted to not carry his, or remain clothed, as was Shirka tradition when hunting on a birthing planet.

  “If they have any honor, they will not. As I explained earlier, no Shirka is allowed to carry any advanced weapons when they are on a hunting or birthing planet. We believe that on these sacred worlds, we must be as close to nature as possible. We must hunt and survive as every other animal on the planet does, with our minds and bodies, nothing else.” Fang displayed even more primal traits than Seth was used to. He was scenting the air much more frequently and his ears never stopped scanning the area for new sounds.

  “So this rule applies even when the enemy doesn’t follow it themselves? We have to believe that the warriors have brought their plasma rifles, swords, and who knows what else with them.” Surgeon was all for honor and bravery, but he felt this tradition could use some wiggle room under certain circumstances—such as the one they were currently in.

  “We cannot make any other being have honor; all we can do is maintain our own.” Fang’s ears suddenly stopped moving around. “They are here.”

  “Are you sure?” Seth knew it was a dumb question even as it left his mouth.

  “Yes. They are here, in fact, longer than we have been.”

  Seth felt warm breath against his neck as he heard a gruff voice. “I am disappointed, brother; you should have scented me much earlier.”

  Seth slowly turned to see what he thought was probably the largest Shirka in the universe. “I’m Captain Seth Fields. You must be Colonel R’haj’tel.”

  “I am not. The colonel is scouting ahead and will be back soon. I am his second, Mef’get’tel. We do not rank ourselves as the Coalition does, but I am told my standing in the pack is equal to a lieutenant of your ranking system.”

  Seth noticed that Mef’get’tel eyed Fang with at least a small amount of contempt and did not make any attempt to hide it. Seth made a note to talk to Fang about it later. “Mef’get’tel, where are the rest of your men?”

  “You may call me Lieutenant. Your tongue does my name no honor.”

  “Fine, Lieutenant, where are your men?”

  “Here. There. Everywhere you are not and everywhere you should be.”

  “Is that your way of saying you don’t like our tactical deployment?” Surgeon had a lot more experience with Shirkas than Seth did, so he was used to their condescending tones.

  “First you defile our traditions by bringing your weapons to a birthing planet, then you do not even have the decency to remove your clothing. Why we have allowed you to join this fight is beyond me.”

  “It IS beyond you, Mef’get’tel.” A soft but commanding voice came from the tree above them. A split second later, the second largest Shirka in the universe landed in a squat next to Seth. “I am Colonel R’haj’tel. I apologize for my son’s behavior.”

  “Hello, Colonel.” Seth put his right hand up with his fingers splayed.

  Shirkas greeted each other with their dominant hand raised and claws out to show their hands were empty of weapons, open to friendship but ready to strike if necessary. The colonel returned the greeting.

  “What my son lacks in hospitality he makes up for in tactical prowess. His assessment of your troop deployment is correct. You will need to bring your men closer together. The predators in this area could easily pick off one of your men without anyone being the wiser.” The colonel used one of his massive claws to draw a diagram in the dirt to show the positions of Seth’s men and where he wanted them to be instead. “You have twelve men in your team, correct?”

  “Yes, sir.” Seth had not given that information to the Shirka government, which meant the colonel had spotted each and every one of Seth’s men, even his sniper team.

  “On any other planet, I am sure your deployment would be successful, but things are much different here. I would suggest that from now on you use a squad deployment such as this. It will keep your men within sight of one another and also keep predators from getting any ideas.” The colonel made a diagram to show two wedge formations with five men each.

  “My men will take exterior positions outside of the wedges to keep the predators even farther back.” He drew spots on his dirt map for his men. “These positions will also allow us to scent more efficiently and provide earlier warning if we run into any enemy scouting patrols.”

  Seth looked at the diagram and saw its merits. He looked to Surgeon and got a nod of approval. “What about Fang? Our Shirka. Would you like him on perimeter with your men?”

  “No. My team does not have commlinks to communicate with yours. It will be best if he stays with you. He will be able to hear and smell us, and pass along any information the pack has.”

  Seth did not have much time working with Fang, but he could tell the Shirka was disappointed that he wouldn’t be hunting with the big boys on this mission.

  “Then, I will provide your sniper team with one of my scouts,” the colonel continued. “The scout will guide them to a position that we believe will be the best spot for them to set up their hide. The scout will stay with them to provide overwatch protection.”

  Mef’get’tel grunted dissatisfaction.

  Seth leaned forward until he was nose-to-snout with Mef’get’tel. “Do you have a problem, Lieutenant?”

  “Yes, I do. One of our scouts is going to have to watch over your snipers to make sure they are not dragged into the forest by a predator. In doing so, you are taking from his honor as he will not be included in the hunt. If your team cannot protect themselves, they should not be here.” His lips curled back to show his shining sharp teeth and accent his point.

  The colonel added his own teeth and growl to the conversation. “Tun’reg’ul has more than enough honor to be spared. He has been on more campaigns and hunts than you have, whelp. Now mind your place in the pack!”

  “Yes, Father.”

  “Now go find your mother and tell her to gather the pack.” Mef’get’tel nodded his obedience and left. The colonel turned back to Seth. “I need you to gather your men as well. Once we are all together, my pack can scent your men individually. It will help us when we are stalking and when we are in combat.”

  “Copy that, Colonel.” Seth used his commlink to call his men to the rally point. Then he asked the colonel, “I’m not completely versed with Shirka tradition or combat units, so I’m curious, telling your son to go to his mother, is that a sort of a Shirka saying or is his mother actually here?”

  The colonel smiled. “She is here. This is a family pack. We are all related by blood. I have my mate, two sons, one daughter, three cousins, two nephews, one niece, and one uncle in my pack.” He looked at Fang. “What is your true name, brother?”

  Fang stiffened with pride. “Weh’op’gar.”

  “Are you mated?”

  “No, Father.”

  Seth blinked. “Father?”

  Fang could tell Seth was confused. “He is the pack leader, so we call him Father. As Mef’get’tel said earlier, Shirkas do not use ranks as the Coalition does. We have a rank structure based on a pack family. It just so happens that in this case, this pack is an actual family.”

  The colonel looked back to Fang. “Weh’op’gar. A good and honorable family name. My niece is also unmated and no arrangements have been made on her behalf. I will make sure you two are on a team together. If you fight well together, who knows?”

  “I should’ve guessed that a Shirka’s first date would have something to do with combat.” Surgeon patted Fang on the arm.

  Twenty minutes later, both teams were assembled. Seth had always been in awe of Fang’s size and his overall presence, but he had nothing on this group of Shirkas. It would appear that the Shirkas could grow them even bigger and scarier than what Seth was accustomed to, and that was saying a lot.

  Seth started with his side
of the briefing. “First off, the colonel, or Father, as his pack knows him, needs each member of the Coalition team to be scented by the Shirka team. So don’t be startled when they come around in a moment to take a whiff of you. And as for the Shirkas, I apologize in advance for some of my guys; they can get pretty gamey real fast out here.” No laughter. “Alright then, moving along…Davies and Boddie will head out with Tun’reg’ul and take up a sniper position in an area that Tun’reg’ul has already scouted.”

  A large and older Shirka stepped forward. “You may call me Uncle. I have three different sites scouted. I will show you my first preference and let you decide where you want to place your hide.”

  Davies raised his hand with his fingers splayed. “I greet you, Uncle. We are ready to move out when you are.”

  Boddie stepped forward and raised his hand also. “Uncle.”

  Tun’reg’ul grunted his approval of the respect he was shown. He then quickly scented the rest of the team he would be leaving behind while the other Shirkas scented Davies and Boddie. With the introductions and scenting done, the three-person team left at a fast jog.

  Seth had borrowed Davies and Fang from Emily for this mission and gave her nine of his men in return. Based on the parameters for both missions, Emily wouldn’t need a sniper for a mission that was going to be taking place on a space station. Seth had taken Fang with his team for obvious reasons.

  Everyone on Seth’s team except Boddie was a combat veteran with the warriors, but that would soon change for Boddie.

  The colonel waited until the rest of his family had scented Seth’s team. He then pointed to his pack. “This is my mate; you may call her Mother. My first son Mef’get’tel; you may call him Lieutenant or First Son.”

  The colonel went around the circle and made similar introductions for everyone in his pack, naming them with the familial pack names. He saved his niece for last and introduced her while he looked directly at Fang. “This is my niece, Huj’pa’ul.”

  Seth saw Fang and Huj’pa’ul eye each other and growl. “Excuse me, Father.” Seth decided to use the pack rankings to honor the Shirka customs. “I am new to Shirka names. Does the last part of the name indicate familial ties? Is Huj’pa’ul the daughter of Uncle Tun’reg’ul?”