Merkiaari Wars: 01 - Hard Duty Read online

  “Where...” he reached inside and lifted out the remote. “This is...”

  “I found it at work,” Shima said oblivious at first to Tahar’s strange reaction. “I was in Area Six. I had to sample some of Adonia’s work for her quarterly inspection and there it was. Isn’t it amazing? Where do you think it came from? I thought it was probably a remote sampler checking up on us, but why would the elders authorise something so silly? They can just read our reports any time they want—”

  “The elders did not send this,” Tahar said in a strange voice. “Tell me again what it was doing.”

  Shima glanced at Chailen who gestured with her tail that she didn’t know what was wrong either. “Well, I didn’t see it do anything really, but I found some of the plants had been damaged. Sampled but not tagged properly. I was tagging one of the plants myself when I caught sight of that thing and pounced on it. It did try to get away, but there are controls underneath. See?”

  Tahar had turned it over and opened the hatch. His ears flicked acknowledgment. “Yes I see. These symbols... which one did you use to turn it off?”

  “The red one.”

  “Red, you’re sure?” Tahar said sounding puzzled. “Green surely?”

  “No it was red. I tried green first and nothing happened. Why, what’s wrong?”

  “Probably nothing,” Tahar said with false cheer. “Thank you for the gift, Shima. This is very unexpected.” He raised the device to his face and breathed in to sample it. “Most unexpected, but greatly appreciated. Thank you.”

  Shima smiled. “I thought of you right away. I knew you would like it.”

  Tahar replaced the remote in the box. “I do, I can hardly wait to play with it.”

  Chailen laughed and Shima did too.

  Tahar didn’t.

  * * *

  Tahar could hardly keep thoughts of the alien device out of his head all that cycle, but finally night fell and he was able to take his treasure to his workroom and delve its secrets. Alien. There was no doubt in his mind it was alien, but how could such a momentous thing come into his cub’s hand and then to his just like that? It was incredible! It was like the opening chapter to a saga where the hero stumbled upon some great thing that would change the world. He snorted. This was no heroic saga, but the device certainly had the power to change his world... or its masters did any way.

  Thoughts of the aliens themselves sobered him. He really should report this find and hand it over to the decon team that would surely be despatched to spirit it away, but he just couldn’t do it. He had speculated on alien origins for years. Engineers like him could hardly fail to do so when so much of the tech they worked with was based upon alien principles and designs gleaned from the war years. Most modern Shan tech had a basis in Merkiaari artefacts left behind by them. Antigravity drives for example, used in planetary transport everywhere today, were little different than those found within the Merkiaari grav sleds used to attack his people hundreds of years ago. The principles derived from those hated war machines were the foundation of the tech used to produce artificial gravity within Fleet ships. The stations in orbit could not have been built without alien technology to base them upon and many other things taken for granted now would not have been thought of without it. His people had much to be proud of, but without the war they would be far behind where they were today. Perhaps still in ships without gravity and powered by solid fuel rockets of all things!

  No, he wanted to play with his present first. He would report the discovery. He would. But he wanted to satisfy his curiosity first. Nidra would have loved this, he thought wistfully as he entered his workroom and set the box down on the table. His mate had always felt that the Merkiaari were just one of many aliens ‘out there’ waiting to be discovered. Tahar had to admit it made sense. Why would the Merkiaari have warships and weapons unless they expected to need them? Obvious really. They must have encountered other races before. That observation was one reason Nidra had been so determined to make her designs work, which in turn led inexorably to the accident and her death.

  Tahar stared down at his gift. “Well my love, it’s time to open the box and learn what has come calling this time.”

  He wasn’t completely irresponsible. Trouble would find him for doing this regardless, but to lessen the consequences he recorded everything he did with full voice and video capture on his comp. He raised the device out of its confinement and discarded the box. Holding it before him, he turned it over and around so that he had a record of every side and surface. He used a claw to point out the various hatches and spoke calmly and clearly.

  “Definitely a remote akin to those I use up at Hool Station. Shima said this one was taking samples of plants, so it’s not likely to have welding equipment aboard it or electrical testing sensors like one of mine. It’s very light. I don’t recognise the material. I don’t think it’s made of metal, or if it is, it’s unlike any I have seen or heard of used by us. Shima said she used the red button to deactivate it. I’m going to try the green now to see what happens.”

  Tahar gripped the thing firmly and pushed the green button. Nothing happened at first but then Tahar realised its weight had diminished further. Carefully he released the device and allowed it to float unrestrained. He was delighted by this evidence that it used antigrav for propulsion. Of course he had suspected it from the moment he saw it—there were no thruster ports or wheels, so what was left? His people had so far failed to make antigrav drives in such a compact form. That was how he knew it was alien and not home built. Besides, it literally smelled alien. This remote, insignificant in itself, would revolutionise how antigrav drives were made. His clan would do anything to own this thing. With it they could design an entirely new generation of tech.

  Tahar shivered, his delight tainted by dark thoughts as he foresaw some problems. If the knowledge was released in the wrong way, it could cause chaos. The makers of current designs could be ruined. He chewed his whiskers in concern but could see no way to avoid it. It wasn’t his place anyway. Perhaps the elders would release the knowledge to everyone all at once so that no one was given unfair advantage. Whatever, that decision was far above him.

  He watched the device hovering and realised it wasn’t going to do anything else. That told him something as well. Its pilot was no longer in control of it. It wasn’t one of the self guiding pre-programmed models he sometimes used for repetitive tasks. If it had been, switching it on should have been enough to trigger its programming. That it waited for input seemed to suggest it needed a driver. He didn’t have the equipment here necessary to replicate a control station. A shame, he would have enjoyed putting it through its paces. He would have to be satisfied learning its secrets through dismantling. He took hold of it and turned it off.

  The next cycle dawned with Tahar still hyper alert. He had segs of recordings and a box of alien tech parts. He knew he could put it all back together but didn’t see a need. Besides, when the authorities saw it they might ask him to reassemble it and join the team to investigate its secrets. He would give up his place on Hool instantly if offered that. He had no doubt big things would come of Shima’s discovery. He wanted to be part of something great again. With that in mind, he knew who he needed to inform first; Nidra’s favourite sib, Tei’Thrand.

  Tahar knew perhaps more than was good for him about the clan-that-is-not. For instance, he knew through Tei’Thrand that all was not as harmonious within that clan as perhaps it appeared to be to outsiders. The war had broken more than the Great Harmony. It had caused factionalism within Tei ranks. Tei’Thrand belonged to the most progressive group, those who believed in change and pursuing the dream of creating the Great Harmony anew amongst the stars, but they had taken a huge blow when the FTL project failed so disastrously. Since then, their opponents had held sway.

  Tei who opposed change couldn’t seriously be called regressive, no matter Tei’Thrand’s scornful use of the word to describe them. They didn’t want to roll back history and return t
o a time when clan fighting clan with crude stone and bronze weapons was the norm, but they did want to limit progress to small incremental steps. Very few of them chose outward looking castes such as the scientists, and none were spacers—ever. Tei’Thrand’s group embraced space and the Fleet. All of Fleet’s ship commanders belonged to that progressive outward looking group.

  There were of course Tei who belonged to neither faction. Those who saw merit in both stances or were for harmony no matter how it be achieved, but by their very natures they did not have a strong voice in Tei councils. They were always seeking conciliation and tried to mediate between those they thought of as the extremists of their clan. Negotiation and compromise was their position in any dispute. Not a strong position to start from. They were never warrior caste.

  Tahar checked the time and decided to call Tei’Thrand right away. The male wouldn’t mind being awoken for this, not once he watched the video in the data packet Tahar had prepared for him. He wasn’t sure what would happen, but something would and wanted to be a part of it. That might be tricky to achieve if Tei’Thrand decided to keep the information quiet. He could easily suppress it, telling only those he trusted within his own clan. Or the elders might order Tahar to surrender the device and keep his silence. All kinds of scenarios played out in his head as he waited for his call to be accepted.

  Tei’Thrand appeared on the screen. “Tahar! How good to see you, it has been too long.”

  Tahar bowed his head. “Tei, an honour as always. I apologise if I woke you.”

  “Not at all. I was already up... meetings later. I wanted to get a few things done before that. How are you and the cubs doing, settled in now?”

  “We’re fine. Chailen is making friends fast as always. Too fast,” he growled thinking of all the males who came sniffing around her those first few cycles. Tei’Thrand laughed, and Tahar gestured his embarrassment with a dip of shoulder and tail. “I think we should block out some time for her mating ceremony soon. She hasn’t said so, but I think Sharn is the winner. I doubt she will choose her caste before mating.”

  “Hmmm. Normally I would not approve of that order of things, but I know Sharn’s family and their clan is solid. They won’t let the pair stray too far from the proper path.”

  That was Tahar’s feeling as well. He had investigated Sharn’s credentials as was only proper, and had found nothing to fear. He would make for a good mate, and his clan had many fine healers within its ranks. Perhaps Chailen would be inspired to join them.

  “Listen Tei, Shima has found something that you need to see. It’s a little... well, shocking. Can I send you a packet? I would like to wait while you watch if that’s all right?”

  Tei’Thrand blinked. “Well, if it’s not too long.”

  “Eight segs, but I don’t think you will need to watch the entire thing now. You will understand after watching the first tenth of a seg, maybe right away if I know you.”

  “You intrigue me, Tahar. And yes I know you did that on purpose! Very well, send it.”

  Tahar did so with a few deft keystrokes and waited.

  “I have it... hmmm, you were not joking. A big video file eh? Let’s see...”

  Tahar watched Tei’Thrand’s puzzled expression dissolve as he played the video. It didn’t take even a tenth of a seg. Tei’Thrand’s ears were quivering with excitement after watching the opening sequence.

  Tei’Thrand focused upon Tahar again. “Where is it now? Does Shima know what she found; does she know to keep her silence?”

  “I have it here with me, still disassembled, and no, Shima doesn’t know what we have. She thought the elders sent it to check her work.” Tahar smiled at the thought. Tei’Thrand didn’t. “No point in alerting her by telling her to keep it a secret.”

  “Agreed. I’m coming over to collect it.”

  Tahar hesitated. “About that—”

  “No games!” Tei’Thrand snapped. “This is momentous news. Astounding... dangerous.”

  “I am aware,” Tahar said stiffly. “There are many people I could have notified. I chose you for a reason.”

  “We are family, Tahar, but this goes beyond that.”

  Tahar waved that away impatiently. “I am not trying to blackmail you, you idiot!” he snapped. “The thing is yours regardless of what you decide to do, but I would appreciate a little consideration. I did come to you after all.”

  Tei’Thrand relaxed. “Apologies. Yes, you did come to me. What consideration?”

  “When the time comes, I would like to be included somehow. My work up at Hool is...”

  “Boring?” Tei’Thrand said with a laugh.

  “Unsatisfying,” Tahar qualified. “I miss the time Nidra and I enjoyed on the FTL project. That was a once in a lifetime thing I know, but now? Surely something will come up, even if it’s limited to in system propulsion.”

  Tei’Thrand inclined his head. “Your background is consistent with any team set up to research that sort of thing. I would not have to try very hard to have you included I am sure. Nidra... I wish...”

  “Yes. I wish too, every morning and every night,” Tahar said sadly, but then straightened. “Thank you. I will expect you here shortly.”

  “I’m leaving now,” Tei’Thrand said and closed the connection.

  Tahar sat back and stared at the blank screen thinking about what he had set in motion. He had no doubt that Tei’Thrand would turn this discovery into something that would benefit the progressive thinkers of his clan. Tahar had no problem with that; he had a lot of sympathy for their beliefs and his caste would as well. Things were going to change again, hopefully for the better, but change they would. That would not make the traditional land bound, and some would say backward looking, Tei happy. They could make things difficult.

  “I wonder what the elders will say about it,” Tahar mused.

  Not that he would ever learn that. He doubted there would be any announcement of this discovery. No, the alien device would quietly disappear but suddenly new discoveries would just happen and researchers would announce a breakthrough. That is how Tahar expected things to proceed. No mention of aliens he was sure. They didn’t need a panic amongst the populace, but quietly the Fleet commanders would be told to keep extra vigilant. Tei’Thrand would use back channels or something like that. Tahar had no real idea what Tei’Thrand planned to do, but he would surely do that at the very least.

  Tahar would have been very surprised indeed if he had known Tei’Thrand had no plans to inform anyone but a handpicked group among his own clan about the device, and would have been even more surprised if he had known that group had allies within the council of elders itself.

  * * *

  7~Abducted

  Earth, capital world of the Alliance

  Professor Brenda Lane stormed into her office to find it being ransacked. She had been informed just moments ago that a dozen people in uniform had descended onto the building looking for her.

  “What the hell are you people doing?” she yelled upon entering her office. “You,” she said, pointing to a man with a lot of colourful ribbons on his chest. “Tell them to put those back.”

  The soldier glanced at her then away without speaking. He was reading a page of notes from a compad and took no further notice of her, even when she stood glaring up at him from just a pace away.

  The items Brenda was referring to were her reference texts. Two women in uniform were stripping her shelves, and placing everything into padded aluminium cases. She hurried forward and tried to take the current book the soldier was holding, but the woman was built like a gorilla and wouldn’t let go. Brenda turned away only to find a man stripping her computer files.

  “What the hell is going on?”

  “Don’t worry Ma’am, I’m being real careful.”

  “I don’t care. You leave that alone,” Brenda said trying to shoulder him aside.

  “Now don’t do that, Ma’am, I have my orders.” He gently but firmly moved her aside. Another man stepped
forward and barred her from approaching the terminal.

  “What orders?”

  “If you will calm down, Miss Lane, I will explain.”

  Brenda whirled toward the door and found the owner of the new voice. He was a general or something. His chest was covered in flashy ribbons. She stalked over to tell him off, but before she could get a word out, he spoke again.

  “First things first. You are Professor Brenda Lane?”

  “You know damn well I am. Who the hell are you?”

  “Commander Freylin. You are the Brenda Lane—professor of exobiology, and xenology?”

  “I said yes, dammit!”

  “If you will come with me please?”

  “I’m not going—hey!” Two very large men laid hands on her. “Let me go or you’ll be sorry.”

  The navy ratings smirked. They hustled her out the door, and were followed by two more as escort. Freylin walked quickly through the corridors ignoring her squawks of outrage.

  “Help! I’m being kidnapped, somebody call security!”

  People poked their heads out of the classrooms and labs as Brenda screamed bloody murder. James went further. He stepped out of his classroom and confronted her kidnappers.

  “What do you think you’re doing? I demand an explanation.”

  Brenda silently cheered.

  Freylin frowned in annoyance. “And you are?”

  “Professor James Wilder.”

  “Professor of what might I ask?”

  “Palaeontology.”

  “Has that any links with exobiology or xenology?”

  James frowned. “With exobiology certainly… in a way. Palaeontology is the study of life in the geologic past. It’s the analysis of plant and animal fossils. Exobiology deals with present day life on other planets, so you see there is a tenuous link.”