Hidden in Predator Planet, page 33
“It will take some few days to supply the coffers,” Raxthezana said.
“Okay,” I said. “The way I see it, the Sister-Queens have little choice but to listen when you inform them of the likelihood of an invading force. The Ikma knew about two of us already, so there’s no point in hiding the rest of us, now,” I explained. “Naraxthel should send a sight-capture showing the woaiquovelt and holy water but reveal our existence as fugitives from a heartless body. Inform the Sister-Queens that IGMC is coming with huge ships and the ability to harvest Ikthe in a matter of weeks. They should mobilize your forces in preparation to defend both planets.”
“Will IGMC go to war, then?” Raxthezana asked.
“Under normal circumstances, an ARA team would recognize Ikthe as part of your food source and bow out,” I said. “However, I’m guessing they’re desperate to recover VELMA-X and will stop at nothing to exact revenge.” I swallowed. “On me.”
“Would nothing sway them from taking this planet?” he asked.
“It’s possible the Ikma Scabmal Kama could offer me in exchange for preserving Ikthe,” I said, my voice dry. “And considering that your people rely on the hunt for their lives, it would be the best scenario for saving the most lives. We should consider this might have the highest probability of success in getting IGMC to leave.”
“Unthinkable,” he said without pause. “There must be another course.”
“Any other course of action will result in loss of life,” I said, my voice gentle as resignation settled over me. “If you hunters try to protect me, your own people will revolt and hunt you down. If your entire population chose to give me safe harbor, IGMC would bring its full might against them. But right now, they don’t even know I exist. They’ll see an aggressive space fleet arrive in their skies and be threatened without ever knowing why.”
“I can see your reasoning,” Raxthezana said, and I felt a thread of trust stretch taut inside me, wondering if he could give me up so easily. He continued.
“But I reject it with my entire being. This one time, I find your strategy wholly unacceptable.”
Heat burned my face and neck, and I blinked back a tear. Raxthezana was by turns infuriating and adorable. Yet—he would not give me up so easily. I closed my eyes and exhaled. Thank you, Jesus.
He remained beside me though he’d stopped talking. I knew he wouldn’t like what I’d said.
But when I considered my heart and reason for every action I’d taken this far, there was no other solution that would reduce the risk of lost lives more than this one: convincing the Queen to surrender me in exchange for Ikthe.
The jig was up. IGMC would find me. And my life wasn’t worth endangering those of my friends and colleagues, nor an entire race of people.
I couldn’t know what Co-Directors Hackney and Clemmins would do, but assuming they took a diplomatic track out of deference for IUR protocols, they would initiate communication using an earlier version of VELMA for translating with the Sister-Queens. As soon as the calculating Ikma saw humans, she would know whose race I belonged to. And the likelihood of the directors showing her my photograph being high, she would know what they wanted. Of course, being the Ikma, she may try to exact something in return not realizing the Lucidity and its fleet would take her planet and people with ease. Her bargaining power was limited to me, and technically, she didn’t know where I was.
If I remained hidden here on Ikthe, along with my friends, and if the Queen’s WarGuard couldn’t find us, then we would have to task VELMA with monitoring the situation when IGMC arrived.
Maybe the directors would stay hidden as well and send probes to Ikthe in an attempt to find us. They would have followed the FQBs’ radiation trails, seen the high concentration of fractionated quark isotopes on Ikthe, and would track it to the vehicles.
“VELMA, where are all of the EEP X215s?” I said.
“I’ve pinpointed their locations on the map in your visor,” she said. “Please note the absence of a fourth pod indicates that Esra’s was destroyed.”
“Thank you. And the P-MIV?”
“Map updated,” she said.
“Where are we in relation to the vehicles?” I asked and paused at a tricky juncture on the trail.
VELMA rotated the 3D map on my screen, and I could deduce that IGMC would focus its search in one quadrant where the three pods and P-MIV were all situated and unfortunately, not that far from us. If the directors chose that route, they wouldn’t send the Advance Resource Assessment Team; it was too late for that.
No, they would send the elite Hostile Recovery Corps. Armed to the teeth, those humans, Shinterrans, and Qhudret were sent into hostile planet situations for everything from asset-rescues to resource defense, and probably black ops the rest of us would never know about. Loyal to IGMC, the HRC wouldn’t think twice about landing on Ikthe and blasting their way through agothe-faxl or rokhural—or ikthekal—to get to the humans.
We would be taken into custody, the HRC would wipe their hands of us, and IGMC would get its way. End of story.
“How are you doing, CeCe?” Joan’s voice popped into my helmet.
“I’ve been strategizing,” I said.
“You’re an excellent strategist,” Joan said. “Whadaya got?”
“I’ve got a whole lot of nothing,” I said. “I can’t believe I didn’t see the connection between the FQBs and the pods. I’ve effectively ruined all of our lives for good. There’s no coming back from this.”
“Wow,” Joan said. “You’re more pessimistic about this than I am.”
“This whole time I’ve been having a debate with myself about the morality of intentionally seeking out the Ikma Scabmal Kama and assassinating her for revenge,” I said. “Turns out she’s small potatoes compared to the might of IGMC.”
“You’re not alone in this,” she said. I heard love in her voice. “We’re all in this together. We all have beef with the Ikma. And we all have a grudge against IGMC as well. Remember that you don’t have to take everyone on by yourself.”
“Thanks,” I said, but alone in my thoughts, I couldn’t imagine any scenario where ten people could take on a battle-tested government and an industrial-military complex and succeed. Check that. I couldn’t see them take on those forces and live.
84
Raxthezana
Pausing for rest just before reaching the land bridge, our group sat and ate rations.
“Just so we’re clear,” Joan said, uncharacteristically interrupting the silence and leaning forward. “If I know CeCe, she’s planning on offering herself up as a sacrifice in exchange for IGMC leaving this star system alone. I’d like to have a vote right now that we’ll allow her to do no such thing.”
A chorus of “iks” and “yeses” met my ears, and I smiled wide, fangs clipping my lip when I saw CeCe’s shocked expression.
CeCe’s nostrils flared as she closed her eyes, and then she opened them again, the liquid coal catching firelight when she met my gaze.
“My intention is—and always has been—saving the greatest number of lives,” she said, her tone serious. “Please share any and all ideas that will accomplish this.”
Her fierce voice sent shafts straight into my heart. She was a warrior, and I wanted her with me always.
“I’ve been thinking about this ever since CeCe pointed out the FQB radiation trails,” Pattee said. “The solution I keep coming back to is simple guerrilla warfare. We play to Ikthe’s strengths.” She met our eyes. “I believe one of you hunters said it before: Ikthe will protect herself. And we know that’s true.”
Everyone nodded but Esra spoke next. “As to communications, I say we keep the status quo. CeCe, when you pushed the Ikma away from Raxthezana after she hit him, was your armor in stealth mode?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, unless BoKama told the Ikma everything, which I doubt, then the Queen doesn’t know much about us, right?” Esra continued. “She knows CeCe escaped but doesn’t know who pushed her. She saw the sight-capture of Joan saving Raxkarax from BoKama. She knows Raxthezana is missing, and possibly suspects Raxkarax is alive, but again, she doesn’t have irrefutable evidence suggesting anything else. She probably doesn’t know about the three extra humans and would be in the dark as to who of the Lottery Five is still alive. Furthermore, she doesn’t know where anyone is. Of course, she’ll suspect Ikthe, but she has no proof.”
“You’re saying if we break radio silence then she’ll have no doubt and can advance her own agenda,” Joan said.
“Exactly,” Esra said. “Of course, this only works if BoKama hasn’t revealed what she knows.”
“But she told VELMA she needed to side with the Queen,” CeCe said. “Doesn’t that suggest she will tell the Ikma everything if she hasn’t already?”
“Maybe not,” Naraxthel said. “Her motives for bowing out of CeCe’s rescue were in self-preservation. She formed a bond with us and our heart mates; I doubt she would reveal anything regarding us. One hopes she will return to our aid as soon as she is able.”
CeCe grunted but didn’t reply, and I smirked at her lively spirit.
“What of IGMC’s impending arrival?” Natheka said. “My people should be warned.”
Esra bit her lip and nodded; I saw the other humans nod as well.
“We will task BoKama with informing the Queen of IGMC’s approach,” Naraxthel said. “Perhaps she detects them via our long-range space scanners or tells the Queen that her actions have incited CeCe’s people to war and that they should anticipate an invasion.”
“So, we could maintain radio silence,” Esra said with a raised brow.
“Yes,” Naraxthel confirmed.
“That warns your people,” Pattee said. “If IGMC takes that route. It’s still possible they could send a landing party in secret, hoping to escape notice by the inhabited planet.”
“I think the Co-Directors will choose stealth,” CeCe said. “The fleet is populated enough that breaking IUR protocol outright would be a huge risk. At least a handful of people could be counted on to report them.”
“Other than the fact that they may be too far from the last DSN tower,” Amity said with a frown. “Unless they left a trail of communication breadcrumbs, they’ll be just as isolated from IUR channels as we are.”
Joan leaned back and huffed in frustration.
“We’re talking in circles,” she groused.
“Not necessarily,” CeCe said and patted Joan’s thigh. “This is a classic brainstorm session. We’ll get it all worked out this way.”
Joan sighed and leaned into CeCe who put her arm around her shoulders.
“If IGMC acts on its own cognizance,” Pattee said. “Are they still likely to use stealth, do you think?”
CeCe tucked her bottom lip under her teeth for a jotik before speaking. “I think so. The Co-Directors are ambitious and greedy, but at the end of the day, they’re also cowards. While they’ll stoop to all sorts of unethical things to get VELMA-X back, I don’t think they’re brave enough or stupid enough to take on an entire alien race, especially one with interplanetary travel capability.”
“It sounds like we will be best served to prepare for a second alien invasion,” Hivelt said. “We vanquished the first wave of aliens. I foresee no issues in conquering the next.”
Pattee smiled at her heart mate, and the other humans laughed.
CeCe met my gaze with a twinkle in her eye, and I folded my arms, granting her a big smile.
“I will tell BoKama of the impending threat, as well as the possible iterations of IGMC’s arrival,” Naraxthel said.
“I will begin sketching traps,” I said.
“Oooh, I’ll help,” Pattee said, an unholy gleam in her eye.
“I’ll update VELMA and have her run simulations,” Esra said. “CeCe?”
“I’ll see if she needs her code tweaked, but I don’t anticipate any issues,” she said.
“Our weapons are still sharp,” Hivelt said.
“We have but to reach my ship,” I said. “Let us away.”
85
Naraxthel
“BoKama,” I said via our private channel. “I hope I find you well.”
“Against reason, I am well,” she said. “The Goddesses saw fit to use the human’s technology to warn and cure me of the illness. I can feel it working within my blood.”
“This pleases me,” I said with warmth. “However, I’m calling you with yet another warning. The humans have reason to believe their mother ship hunts them, even now.”
“I thought they had traveled outside the range of their people’s tracking ability,” she said.
“As did they at first,” I said. “After much discussion and disparate details brought to light, they think there is a high likelihood that the faction known as IGMC approaches the Shegoshel star system. My brothers and I desire our people will be warned and able to prepare. Mayhap you can find traces of their ship on long range scanners? At the least, you and the Ikma must needs mobilize the military arm of Ikshe.”
“This is dire news,” she said. “The Ikma wastes in her bed chamber. Though I am feeling improved, it may take several day cycles for the antidote to reach effectiveness. An invasion could cripple us at our weakest—and the meat stores have yet to be replenished.”
“I am sorry to be the messenger of these fey tidings,” I said. “We hasten to Ikshe to offer our support. It would be a mercy if the Ikma commenced her walk in the Fields of Shegoshel, but you are right. The Theraxl will need to see united Sister-Queens in a time of war. Nevertheless, I trust the Holy Goddesses of Shegoshel will guide your hand.”
“Thank you for the warning and that blessing, Naraxthel,” she said. “I will try to fill the role that is the Ikma Scabmal Kama’s by right.”
“These many moons have you been a support and a force for good, Younger Sister,” I said, tenderness in my voice. “I doubt not but the Holy Goddesses attend you in all things.”
“May the Light of Shegoshel shine upon you,” she said.
“And may the death of your enemies bring peaceful slumber,” I said. I had never wished for that benediction to be truer than in this moment.
86
BoKama
Naraxthel’s news drummed a panicked beat in my heart home. Theraxl hadn’t gone to war in one hundred revolutions. Ikshe’s military arm was underprepared and neglected, just as the fortress. Nevertheless, there were hundreds of restless hunter warriors waiting to join the hunt. They would fight to protect Ikshe and her sister planet. But I did not know how serious of a threat the IGMC faction was.
Accessing my tablet, I pinged the communications tower located on the far side of the hangar.
“BoKama,” the Chief Tower Steward dipped his head, surprise evident on his face.
“I have received intelligence of a possible future attack,” I said. “Engage every possible scan, sight-capture or image within our star system and send me the results.”
“And the Ikma?” he asked, a swallow punctuating his question. I paused.
“She is ill and requires rest,” I said. “Leave her out of the communication.”
“As you say,” he said with another head dip, and I closed the transmission.
There was one more thing I must do to protect my people.
The Ancient Writs and Ways demanded rituals and ceremony for ministering government rites and protocols. To call a Tribunal, I must dress in ceremonial garb and summon those who would sit in judgment to an Enclave Gathering.
Preparing my toilette, I listened for signs of the Ikma’s failing health or the promise of recovery, but nothing sounded from the hall outside my doorway. Summoning a eunuch, I turned so he could fasten the robe in the center of my back, and then he wove the waterfall of intricate victory braids into my hair.
Dipping his head as he left, I thought I caught a hopeful light in his eye, but it could have been the flickering of the hall sconce.
Walking to the sight-capture room, I remembered there had been reports of smoke and sparks, but when I entered, all appeared normal. The attendant nodded at me, his gaze traveling the length of my black gown trimmed with red and landing on my braids.
“Enclave Gathering?” he said to my solemn nod.
Keying in the designations, I waited a rotik for the five Enclave members to appear from their regional strongholds across Ikshe.
Zama, Enclave Governess of the Deadlands, spoke first, her long white hair swept into a crown of braids. “We hoped you would contact us,” she said, surprising me. “Missives have sat unanswered for months. When your sight-capture arrived, much was explained.”
“Missives?” I repeated.
“The Deadlands stores have depleted to dangerous levels,” she said. “It is well that the Ikma opened the hunt once more, but it appears that strife infects the ruling body. She spoke of invaders and disease. She tried to murder you. As you stated, she sent the Lottery Five without the lilies.”
“We knew something was amiss when there were no lilies,” Joshe from the Southern Edge region said. “When has there been a quest without dressing ikthekal hair with valley lilies? It wasn’t right.”
The others agreed with solemn expressions.
“I had hoped her madness would wane,” I said into the sight-capture feed. “And I should have acted sooner. She murdered a guard weeks ago, and I lied to his offspring.”
Rowoa touched two fingers to her crown before she spoke. “Mayhap you remember the last three raxfathe rituals,” she said. “The Fruited Valley Enclave suspended the sight-capture feed, and we returned to our works and pleasures by common vote.”
