Merkiaari Wars: 03 - Operation Oracle Read online

  He moved to join Admiral Meyers. “Can I have a word?”

  She nodded and walked with him out of the conference room and into the corridor. “About the Shan?”

  He nodded. “Do you know those two?” Indicating the Shan males whispering together as they headed for the boat bay with the others.

  “No, they’re new. Kuzov mentioned them though. Apparently the elders finally decided to assign him a full time liaison, rather than leaving it to random chance. I think one will stay up here with Kuzov full time eventually.”

  Made sense. Until now there hadn’t been an official liaison with the fleet. Contact with the Shan had been between commanders on the ground and with the Shan elders through them. This liaison business was further proof that the Shan were taking steps, getting their ducks in a row so to speak. Burgton approved. He hoped it would make his life easier when trying to predict events. He was already starting to think the only way to guess what Shan would do in a given situation was ask one. Unfortunately, unlike Kuzov he didn’t have any Shan of his own.

  “What do you think?” Burgton said as they waited for the elevator. They had let the others go first for privacy.

  “About the liaison idea? I’m surprised they waited so long. Tei’Varyk and Wilder went down world months ago.”

  Burgton frowned. “True, true... I was thinking of your opinion of them as individuals rather than their official designation.”

  “How so? I can hardly boast of my extensive knowledge of them as people, and I only met these two today at the presentation. One thing I did notice.”

  “Oh?”

  “They’re not warrior caste,” Meyers said. “But they are Tei. No Shan would claim the title if they were not; I’ve learned that much about their culture.”

  So, she saw it the same as he, maybe. “I agree, but why do you think so?”

  “Nothing too complicated,” Meyers said as the elevator doors opened. They entered the car alone and selected the boat bay as their destination. “It’s silly really, but did you notice their harnesses?”

  Burgton hadn’t and he said so.

  “They weren’t new, yet both of them kept fiddling with the things as if unused to them. They were uncomfortable all through the presentation as if used to wearing the civilian kind.”

  Burgton chuckled. “So simple I didn’t pick up on it. I’m impressed, Admiral.”

  She shrugged. “Call me Alli, General. We’ve known each other long enough to be passed the rank thing.”

  “Then call me George,” Burgton replied. “I felt they weren’t what they seemed, but I didn’t notice the harness thing. Mind if I lay out a theory?”

  “Sure.”

  “I think you’re right about them. They are Tei but healer caste not warrior. I think the elders want eyes on us, but they went a step further. You know of their mind healers?”

  Meyers nodded but speculation was in her eyes. “You’re guessing of course, but it would be a smooth move on their part. I would have to applaud it if true.”

  Burgton grinned. “We really shouldn’t. It’s tantamount to spying.”

  Meyers chuckled. “If they did it to me I would call them on it, but they’re doing it to Kuzov. The Shan are allies, George. They won’t learn anything they won’t soon have a right to know anyway. If this gives them a leg up on understanding us, more power to them.”

  “You admire them very much.”

  “Hard not to, there’s a lot that’s admirable. If it was me and not Kuzov, I would invite them to come out into the open about what they’re doing. It wouldn’t offend me to host a mind healer as liaison, might be interesting, but doing it behind Kuzov’s back risks his anger. I’m not sure how he would react to learn of this.”

  “Hmmm. I won’t out them to Kuzov, but I agree. I think we should suggest they explain this to the elders. They should find a warrior caste replacement for Kuzov before he does figure it out. He’s no fool.”

  “Let’s catch up to them,” Meyers said and they increased their pace.

  They caught up with the two Shan in the boat bay waiting for a shuttle to come free. Burgton had seen busy boat bays before, but to the Shan, the taxiing spacecraft and bustle of crewmen waving their batons to shepherd them into parking areas was still a novelty. Burgton took a moment, trying to see things through alien eyes.

  The snub-nosed shuttles were white above and black below the point where their swing-wings attached to the fuselage, a result of the nanocoat used to protect them against the fires of re-entry. Nanocoat did darken with heat, but that wasn’t why the shuttles were painted two-tone. It was to differentiate them from civilian models. Civilian shuttles were white all over. The absolute zero of space had returned these shuttles to their default colour. Had they been in atmosphere soon after re-entry they would have been coal black all over reacting to heat.

  A shepherding crewman crossed his glowing batons and the shuttle in his charge halted. The pilot raised a hand with up thrust thumb and went through his shutdown procedures. More crewmen ran forward, some connecting refuelling lines, while others went for the hatch to open it for boarding. Similar things were happening all over the bay.

  ASN Lincoln was an aging but still very powerful Excalibur class heavy cruiser. Its place as Fifth Fleet’s flagship was secure for years yet. Its replacement would probably be one of the newer more powerful Washington class ships like ASN Victorious, Admiral Meyers’ current flagship. Unlike Home Fleet, First Fleet, and Second Fleet, Kuzov’s Fifth Fleet was created for offensive punch not defensive holding actions. It contained no dreadnaughts. It should have been surprising that it was tasked with holding the Shan system, but Burgton understood why it was chosen. Its ships were fast and powerful, its units picked to complement one another, and its mission was to move out quickly and hit its target lightning fast. That meant it was always ready to move station, its fleet train ready and able to support it no matter the mission. Fifth Fleet was one of three like it that was constantly on the move in Alliance space. They were the hammer, the other three the anvil.

  Burgton recalled the fuss the announcement to create a Fifth Fleet without dreadnaughts had caused. Back then the idea of handicapping Fourth Fleet that way was still being debated hotly. The screams of outrage when Fifth Fleet was announced with a similar configuration had resounded throughout the Alliance. Calls for an investigation into the pros and cons had been voiced in the Council. The fact of the matter was that the Navy could build ten light cruisers or five heavy cruisers for every dreadnaught it manufactured. It preferred numbers and manoeuvrability over slower tougher ships with huge crews. Besides, they were still building dreadnaughts albeit at a much slower rate. They were simply replacing older designs with the new ones and putting the old ships into a mothballed reserve, not sending them to the breakers like they did with smaller units.

  Burgton rued that decision just a little. He had ah... rescued a few ships from the breakers with none the wiser over the years, but where he would find crews for a squadron of dreadnaughts he had no idea. Probably for the best that temptation be out of his grasp. The reserve flotilla was located outside Mars orbit. No way to jack a ship from there, he mused.

  Meyers halted before the Shan who broke off their whispered but rapid-fire conversation in their own tongue. She bowed and gave the flowery greeting most conversation with Shan opened with.

  “I greet you Tei’Xanthe and you also, Tei’Slavik. May you live in harmony,” Meyers said and waved a hand at George. “May I present General Burgton?”

  Burgton inclined his head and repeated the greeting, but concluded it with, “We have met, but briefly.”

  Both Shan bowed.

  “Might we join you?” Meyers asked. “We have something of import to discuss with you. Your elders will no doubt require you to ah... assist them in a decision quite soon thereafter I should think.”

  Shan ears went back and then twitched upright. Burgton’s smile widened as tails flexed and whiskers drew down. Shan were a
bsolutely bloody fascinating to him. He really really wanted one of his own to observe and learn from. Damn it all, how was he going to slot them into his simulations!

  Tei’Slavik tugged at his harness, and Burgton’s eyes narrowed. That was part of what Meyers was talking about. Slavik shifted the holster higher on the strap, and then tugged it lower in irritation, but when he noticed Burgton watching he snatched his hand away as if burned. Burgton grinned, and the Shan’s ears went all the way back, but they flicked straight again when he remembered Human grins did not indicate hostile intent. Burgton forced himself to show a closed mouthed smile to put the male at ease. He should have done that first.

  “We are waiting to go down to Harmony,” Tei’Slavik said in very good English. His translator was on his harness but switched from broadcast to record mode, Burgton noted. “We are to watch the fighting at Shoshon.”

  Meyers nodded. “That’s fine, we’ll wait with you and I believe General Burgton is also going down world. He will join you on your shuttle.”

  Tei’Xanthe’s eyes widened a little. “Honoured we are,” his words came clearly from his translator, but Burgton did not need the translation. His processor handled the Shan language pretty well these days. “But what is this about the elders?”

  Burgton took the lead. “As time is short, I will be blunt with your permission. Please do not fear I mean harm to you or your people.”

  Tei’Slavik and Tei’Xanthe glanced at each other and then back to Burgton. Both flicked ears in the Shan gesture of affirmative, but then nodded for good measure.

  “Good,” Burgton said and quickly looked around for eavesdroppers. No one was near. “It has come to our attention that both of you are healer caste, not warrior caste as advertised.”

  Ears went back.

  “No need for concern,” Burgton added with raised hands gesturing for calm. “Admiral Meyers and I have no intention of informing anyone else, but we feel you should tell the elders how this will be seen from Admiral Kuzov’s point of view.”

  Tei’Slavik looked to Tei’Xanthe and took something from the quick exchange. Permission maybe and Burgton raised his estimate of Xanthe’s age. Between equals, Shan tended to defer to age.

  “How will Admiral Kuzov react, please?” Tei’Slavik said.

  So it was true. Burgton was pleased to be proven right, but that wasn’t the issue. How could he use this? Meyers had already indicated a willingness to help, but he would prefer to keep things within the regiment if possible.

  “Admiral Kuzov will be angry. What you’re doing is spying upon one who is a friend. You dishonour him.”

  Ears went hard back at that and stayed there. Shan, no matter their caste, took honour seriously. They were not that far from their clan and tribal origins after all. Just a few centuries ago they were fighting each other with spears and claws.

  “We honour all Humans! No dishonour was intended!” Tei’Slavik said, clearly agitated now. “How can we make this right?”

  “We know you meant no harm, and that you’re trying to understand us,” Meyers put in, keeping her voice low and soothing. “I’m sure when you explain to the elders they will send a warrior to take your place here on Lincoln. No need to say more to Admiral Kuzov than that the elders are reassigning you elsewhere.”

  “But this does not erase the wrong?” Tei’Xanthe said uncertainly, his translator impersonal but his worry was clear upon his face. “Please, we must be clear, thank you?”

  Meyers would have disagreed, but Burgton took his chance and stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. “This is unfortunately true, Tei, but it is easily mended. Admiral Meyers would like one of you to help her aboard her ship, if that is agreeable to the elders. She does not mind that you are not warrior caste. I would also welcome a Shan aide. As you know, my men have been fighting alongside your people. It would be a great help to me if one of you, or perhaps two of you—one a warrior—would agree to stay by my side to help me understand your people better.”

  Meyers glanced knowingly at him, and her lips twitched as if fighting a grin.

  Tei’Xanthe froze for a moment in surprise.

  Tei’Slavik said something to Xanthe in Shan, but it was so fast that Burgton missed it. Surprised, he checked his log and realised he had heard it fine but couldn’t make head or tails of it. It had been Shan, but was spoken in an obscure dialect. Burgton hadn’t heard there were different dialects here, but there obviously were. Perhaps they were used along clan lines, or maybe it had something to do with caste. He had no idea. He shouldn’t be surprised considering the number of languages Humans had used in their time, but it was damn inconvenient from a nosy Human’s point of view.

  The Shan finished their consultation, and together bowed to Burgton. Tei’Slavik spoke first.

  “We would be honoured to be chosen to accompany you. It is an extreme honour you offer us. We are not worthy of a tenth part of it. Your worlds are much discussed among our people. To see them... it is a great honour!”

  Burgton blinked. Oh god damn, they thought he meant for them to accompany him back to the Alliance! He had meant for them to join him while here in the Shan system. Alli was grinning at him openly now, and he had to agree that it was sort of funny. His machinations had lead to this. Tei’Xanthe was speaking and Burgton quickly focused on his words. His unease faded a little as the import of Xanthe’s words sank in.

  “... very great honour, but we must take your proposal to the elders. This decision is far above us. I am sure Kajetan will request Tei’Varyk and other worthies attend and advise her. Pleased I am to convey your words to her regarding Admiral Kuzov and your suggestion for a new liaison. I am most certain she will appoint a warrior this very day.”

  Burgton nodded, still trying to think. Kajetan would send a warrior to Kuzov, he had no doubt. That pinched off one possible disaster. The matter of one or both of these Shan joining Alli on Victorious wasn’t his concern, and he dismissed it from his thoughts, but a Shan of any stripe assigned long term to him? That had possibilities. It would surely help his understanding, but it meant breaking a cardinal rule of his. No one landed on Snakeholme but vipers or those working for the regiment and already resident there. No one! In fact, no outsider even knew where it was. It had been a terrible risk when he’d had Snakeholme’s existence erased from Alliance records, but had allowed one entry to remain for drone communications. That entry, by presidential seal, was cloaked and hidden from everyone except the President and First Space Lord, but even such dire measures left him uneasy. Data, no matter how secured, could be compromised, but a means of communication with the Alliance and Admiral Rawlins in particular was a necessity.

  “Sirs?” a young crew woman said as she approached. “If you would take your seats aboard the shuttle?”

  Burgton nodded and gestured to the Shan to precede him before turning to Meyers. “Well, we seem to have saved the day for Kuzov.”

  Meyers snorted. “I did all right out of it. I think I’ll be hosting those two on Victorious very soon.”

  “You don’t think one will be given to me?”

  “Doubt it, George. Xanthe’s English isn’t the best, and Slavik seems attached to him... his aide maybe? I think you’ll get a couple of Shan, but I’m betting they will be infantry fighters.”

  Burgton nodded. Made sense to him, and he might even have fought beside them. Still, considering their choice of liaisons for Kuzov, he would wager the elders would still send at least one healer caste. They were very interested in how Humans thought, not just in the way they fought Merki. He shook Meyers’ hand, and followed the Shan into the shuttle.

  * * *

  3 ~ Another Point of View

  Merki Lander, Ruins of Shoshon, Harmony

  First Claw Karnak snarled wordlessly. His cleansing was a failure. From the moment the Human vermin arrived and attacked his ships, he had been beset by incompetence and defeat on all sides. The only victories to his name were ones where he had taken personal command. T
hey were something to be proud of, but they would never be known. Besides, even if the news did somehow leave the system and reach the Warlord what good would such small victories be when the scale of this disaster finally came out? His life was forfeit whether he survived this battle or not, and it would be not. He knew that. He tried not to let that awareness betray his fear to the others. Dying bravely was all he had left. The knowledge threatened to turn his bowels to water, and he suspected his shield bearer knew it. Zuark was a warrior beyond compare. A friend and companion of that thrice cursed Valjoth, the current First Claw of the Host. How he hated them both.

  Valjoth, always it was Valjoth. He wished... there was much that he wished, but it was all for nothing now. There was nothing left but to die. He could do nothing about Valjoth. He feared his defeat and his shame could be used to bring down the Warlord, and Valjoth was waiting. Who else would ascend the throne? Who else could? Certainly none from his batch could be relied upon now that he had failed so badly. All of them might suffer his fate, tainted with his shame.

  He closed his eyes, listening to yet another report of disaster. In one way, it would be a relief to die. Get it over with. His body like so many of his troops would never reach the recycle vats to nourish the next generation, so why put off the inevitable? Only for pride did any fight on. And for vengeance. To kill and kill and kill until they could kill no more. It was the Merkiaari creed.

  His eyes flew open when he registered the latest outrage. “What!” he roared. “You dare report such losses to me?”

  Zuark Sheild Bearer watched his lord in silence. It was a shield bearer’s duty to protect and aid his lord, but he had been forbidden to give council after the last time he disagreed with his lord’s orders—a shameful situation to impose upon any shield bearer, and an extreme insult to one of Zuark’s quality. He was spawned among Usk’s batch, Valjoth’s own shield bearer. He watched in silence, condemning his lord with his pitiless eyes full of wrath unvoiced.

  “Destroy them now!” Karnak roared.