Lacuna: The Sands of Karathi (12 page)

“Well, it wasn’t easy. I had to send the messages through the Forerunner network. Jump, transmit, jump, transmit. It was jolly slow going.”

Liao mulled over Ben’s words. “Well, we’re glad you did, at any rate.”

Ben laughed. “Oh, not a problem at all, really. You guys had it mostly figured out anyway. I just helped. You probably would have nailed it on your own in a few decades or so, but I couldn’t wait that long.”

Liao nodded. “Wouldn’t be the first time technology has flowed from a more advanced civilization to a lesser one. We’ve benefited, though, so thank you.”

Ben winked his optics again. “No worries. Now, I bet you want to know about Velsharn, right?”

Taking a breath, Liao nodded. “I do. If they’re Telvan, and we can establish a diplomatic rapport with them, this is good news. We need allies. If they can help us get James and the crew of the
Tehran
back, that’s definitely a bonus.”

“I got it, Captain. Visiting the Telvan to somehow obtain their research is one thing, but an assault on Cenar is another. Even with this mysterious jump drive, I don’t think we could achieve any kind of victory against firepower of that magnitude. There’s just too many guns.”

Liao grinned. “How about you let me
worry about that, hmm?”

Chapter VI

“
Velsharn”

Operations

TFR Beijing

Near Velsharn Research Facility

Toralii Space

“
Jump complete, Captain. We are in the primary Velsharn Lagrange point and the
Sydney
is in position at jump point two.”

Stepping towards the command console, Liao nodded to the tactical console. “Excellent. Analysis of the Toralii’s defensive status?”

The fresh-faced man who served as Jiang’s replacement, whose name did not immediately leap to mind, glanced her way. “No activity so far. They probably haven’t seen us yet, or if they have, their alarms will be just sounding now.”

Peng
. That was his name. “Very good, Mister Peng. Let me know the instant you see any kind of activity, but let’s keep our own weapons powered down for now.”

Liao felt Saara watching her. She turned, giving the Toralii woman a nod. “We are here with peaceful intentions. It’s important that we make that clear. I don’t want them to think we’re here to attack them.”

Saara nodded her thanks. The Telvan—Saara’s people—were more reasonable than the Toralii Alliance. Liao was hopeful they could initiate a dialogue.

She glanced down at the main monitor, the planet’s blue, water-covered surface illuminated clearly by the ship’s optics. Since the vast majority of its surface was water, the whole planet was almost dark on the electromagnetic and thermal scopes.
Although there was one extremely bright patch on one of the few islands, indicating that whatever colonies the Telvan had settled on this planet were clumped together, and that there was a high level of power being generated and used at that location.

Exactly as one might expect from a research facility, she mused. Ben and Saara both agreed that this was the most likely place for a Toralii colony, as they did not like water.

Lieutenant Dao spoke up. “Captain, facilities on the surface are broadcasting a signal. They’re hailing us.”

They had anticipated this. Liao glanced at Saara, the only one of them who could speak Toralii, and handed her the headset for the long range radio. With little difficulty, the Toralii slipped it over her head. Kamal handed Liao the First Officer’s headset, and the man nodded to Dao to open the channel.

[“This is the Velsharn Research Facility. Identify yourselves and state your purpose.”]

Liao had given Saara the task of talking to them directly, rather than simply acting as Liao’s translator. It was hoped that another Toralii–especially one of the same faction–would be more welcome than an alien species.

[“Velsharn Research Facility, this is Airmaiden Saara of the Task Force Resolution vessel
Beijing
. We come not to harm you, nor to bring you misfortune in any way, and we approach you in peace. We wish to engage in trade with you regarding your advanced jump drive technology.”]

There was a long pause, almost ten seconds, presumably as the Toralii researchers deliberated the strange request,
made in their dialect by one of their own.

[“Task Force Resolution vessel
Beijing
, uhh, we are a peaceful research facility, not a trading station, but we have no quarrel with you, nor even knowledge of your species or capabilities. However, trade dialogue cannot be genuine when offered at the receiving end of two warships’ guns. Surely you understand our skepticism.”]

Liao nodded to Saara. “Not an unexpected response. Offer a diplomatic exchange; they send one of their people, we send one of ours.”

[“Velsharn Research Facility,
Beijing
. As a gesture of good faith, we are prepared to dispatch an unarmed diplomat to the surface to negotiate with you regarding a potential exchange and to offer you what we have for trade.”]

Another long pause.

[“Understood,
Beijing
, but what guarantee do we have that you are not with the Toralii Alliance?”]

Liao was vaguely amused that the Telvan were more suspicious of other Toralii than they were of an unknown species.

Saara turned to Liao, a wide grin stamped on her feline face as she held down the talk key. [“Perhaps you have not heard of the Battle of Kor’Vakkar?”]

Kor’Vakkar, or the Gateway of Eternal Ash, was an important stronghold of the Toralii Alliance. They used it as a rally point, a resupply venue, and a shipyard. The Humans called it the Hades system.

Liao and James tore through that place like a pair of whirling dervishes, destroying the massive, armoured space station that served as the system’s fortress and resupply point and annihilating numerous unprepared Toralii Alliance warships before they had jumped away. It had been a decisive blow, one that Fleet Command had hoped would deter the Toralii from attacking directly in the future.

James had nearly been killed. However, she could not afford to process those thoughts and emotions at the moment so, as she had done more and more of late, they were brutally stuffed into the back of her mind and forced out of her thoughts.

From the radio there was a stunned silence, then a low chuckle.

[“We
have
heard of the assault, but we did not know who perpetrated the deed. We are no friends of the Alliance and, if that truly was you who broke Kor’Vakkar’s back, we have much to discuss.”]

Primary Research Hub

Surface of Velsharn

Liao fell in love with Velsharn the moment she set foot on its soil.

It truly was an alien world, slightly cooler and dimmer than Earth due to its distance from its sun. The planet was almost entirely covered in water, and on what little land existed the ground was covered in thick and vibrant flora. A thick blanket of seaweed stretched out from the coasts, as though the amount of life on the tiny islands had spilled out into the oceans as well. The gravity was slightly higher than Earth’s, although not uncomfortable for any of the crew.

The Toralii scientists who had settled on Velsharn appeared to have formed their colony with the deliberate intention to preserve the planet’s environment. From all sides, the vibrant fauna seemed to encroach unhindered on the colonist’s small settlement, vine heavy with fruit, and plants growing all around and over the buildings, blending them into the landscape. At first, Liao suspected that it might be a form of camouflage, but as they explored the colony she came to realize they were embracing their environment rather than trying to shape it.

The largest building of the settlement was a central mess hall, surrounded by fairly spacious prefabricated dwellings–homes, judging by their size and reduced thermal signature–that were covered in blue vines. The next largest was the colony’s medical facility, then various labs and workrooms of unknown description, entertainment complexes, and recreation areas.

The breeze, fresh and clean, came from the east, and with it the singing of thousands of birds. They were annoying at first, as they made conversation difficult, but after a time Liao became accustomed to–and even enjoyed–their high-pitched tweeting.

The moment the landing party arrived, they were met by the local inhabitants. Qadan, a grey-furred Toralii and the administrator responsible for the facility, came out and greeted them cautiously but warmly, flanked by several assistants.

Introductions were made, swiftly and with formality that faded as they began to talk. Liao kept the crew on a tight leash and did not bring many–just herself, a security detachment of Marines, Saara, Cheung, and Summer. Kamal was in charge of the
Beijing
in her absence.

Matthew Knight, the captain of the TFR
Sydney
, stayed with his ship, in orbit with the
Beijing
. Liao felt sorry for him; the planet seemed heavenly. After having spent nearly a year living in space with nothing but steel mesh underneath her feet—aside from the visit to Karathi—the opportunity to hear the crunching of dirt below her boots was more than welcome.

And,
oh
, the freshness of the air. Crisp and humid and clean, salty as though they were near the ocean, which judging by the planet’s high volume of surface water made a great deal of sense. It was tantalizing to the noses of those who had, for so long, breathed recycled, stale oxygen.

Although initially wary, the Toralii were soon out in force to greet them. Qadan explained that the colony was home to ten thousand souls, all civilians, their numbers swelled by the families the researchers had brought along with them. Seeing thin-furred Toralii children running and playing seemed strange to Liao. She thought
of the child growing inside her and found herself imaging her son or daughter joining in their games.

The Telvan greeted Liao and her crew almost like heroes after what they had done at Kor’Vakkar, something that–coming from an alien species–felt more than a little odd. Saara answered endless questions regarding the battle of Kor’Vakkar as fast as she could speak.
The stories were repeated by those who heard them and seemed to grow bolder with each retelling. Saara looked particularly glad to be back with her own people, although she had little chance to socialize as she was occupied translating for Liao and Kamal.

With Liao’s permission, the Marines gave away a few of their smaller items—torches, radios, and mission patches—to the Toralii, who studied them with a voracious curiosity. In return, the Toralii offered them a whole host of technological devices which were graciously accepted, along with fresh fruit–an exquisite luxury for those who had spent months eating nothing but rehydrated rations–and small flasks of a sweet nectar that smelt utterly divine. Liao accepted a vial for herself, tucking it into a pocket of her uniform.

The hours passed faster than she had anticipated. With the initial meet-and-greet going far better than even her most optimistic expectations, Liao and Saara were offered an audience with Leader Qadan in his private office, a prefabricated building attached to the side of his residence. She accepted the offer as quickly as it had been made.

[“Your people certainly have enamoured themselves with our kind,”] Qadan remarked as he smiled at her, his grey tail swaying gently behind him. He and his assistants had offered Liao and Saara two Toralii-style chairs; they bore a great deal of similarity to Human chairs, except the back was broken into two halves so the Toralii tail could easily slip in and out. Although she imagined it would be remarkably uncomfortable and only sat because it was polite, Liao found the chair strangely comfortable and relaxing.

“Thank you,” she answered, and Saara translated right behind her. “It’s been more than a pleasure. You’re a welcoming, kind people and, with your permission, I would like to give my crew a day’s leave here, in eight-hour shifts. They would find the beauty of this place as enthralling as I do.”

[“Your request is granted, of course. Velsharn does have a way of growing on you,”] Qadan admitted, gesturing out the clear window to the verdant blue forest beyond. [“In more ways than one. I hated the thought of leaving my ship and living on a planet, having been born in space like most of our kind, but I found this place to have a certain enchantment upon it that I, for the life of me, could not challenge. I cannot leave this place. I’ve grown old here, and I shall die here, happy and content, surrounded by my family.”] He gave a wide smile, showing his sharp, white teeth. [“Who could ask for more than that?”]

It was an admirable sentiment, and Liao felt herself agreeing. She nodded. “I must confess that such thoughts have not been absent from my mind of late, either.”

Saara dutifully translated, then turned to the Human woman, raising a black-furred eyeridge. [“Captain Liao, you have considered retirement? So early into your career?”]

Normally, Liao would find such a thing impossible and the topic offensive to discuss. She had fought so hard, for so long, to get where she was–and received more than her fair share of luck, in and out of the battlefield—to voluntarily choose to surrender it all seemed an impossible decision.

But she was thinking about it.

Perhaps it was the effect of this place, perhaps Liao needed someone to confide in, or perhaps she was unwilling to lie to Saara, but for some reason, Liao couldn't help but spill the truth.

“I am with child,” she admitted, giving Saara an apologetic smile. The feline Toralii’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.

[“A-are you certain?”] the Toralii paused, translated for Qadan, then stared at Liao.

“I am.”

Qadan, the grey-furred Toralii, smiled widely. [“The Telvan consider cubs to be the ultimate expression of joy for a couple. Does the father know?”]

Too late, Saara shot him a warning stare.

Liao kept her back straight, her tone even. “He does not. The father is a prisoner of the Toralii Alliance. We believe he is being held at Cenar.”