Star Force: Divide (SF76) (Star Force Origin Series) Read online

  And that was happening, but more so with the Preema. Cal-com didn’t have accurate numbers of lizard movements in their coreward half but he could guestimate what was happening based off of observed movements through the bottleneck territory that the Voku and Star Force were now contesting. There were just as many reinforcements coming from there as they were from the lizard core systems and Cal-com knew that was why the Preema were rolling along as quickly as they were. Paul’s target system was a hotbed that was sucking in lizard fleets from other theatres and making it even easier for the Preema to advance…and as long as the lizards were committed to holding that system the flow would continue.

  If Paul could keep chewing them up then that was an advantage, to be sure, but the sporadic reports he was getting from the Humans were showing a very costly battle for the system. As usually casualties were remarkably light, but Star Force was losing so much equipment that they had to keep their own reinforcements flowing in nonstop. That reduced their ability to expand their territory deeper towards the lizard core, giving the enemy a respite in their weaker systems save for the invasion corridor that the H’kar were pushing with light Star Force assistance. Their ally was next to useless without the Humans giving them directions, but when combined they were very effective at purging worlds.

  Unfortunately the Skarrons were not. Cal-com did not understand the inner workings of the Skarron empire, but for one so large they were doing a very bad job of defending their borders…and he believed that they weren’t truly trying. Did they have a greater enemy elsewhere to fight? Or were they simply apathetic and not willing to reinforce the ‘border’ regions? Their territory was so huge, and their command structure so isolated, that Cal-com had never gotten good intelligence from the captured worlds his people were actively taking from them back around their home territory.

  The Elders had told them to expand there and they were, but he hadn’t learned much about the Skarrons that he didn’t already know. From the snippets that he did have, and the reports coming in from the Preema, he surmised that the Skarrons were only interested in winning and were willing to lose systems that couldn’t defend themselves. How far would the lizards have to press before that changed he didn’t know, but had he been in control of their military he would have acted strongly far before now, if to only deny the enemy the additional resources it was gaining from the conquests.

  The Preema fleets that had been dispatched to the Skarron border were helping to slow the advance, but only in pockets. They couldn’t devote enough ships there while purging from the opposite side at the needed rate, so they were assisting the Skarrons who were fighting hard, just with no support from the rest of their empire…at least not in the numbers that Cal-com suspected they could summon up if wanted.

  He couldn’t fault the Preema for trying, but the Skarrons were just as much an enemy of the Voku as they were Star Force and he was glad that the Humans had refused any sort of an Alliance with them. The Preema might be able to ignore the past actions of The Nexus, but the Voku were not so forgiving. Fortunately Star Force wasn’t either, for when one waged war lightly it had no meaning and the definition between friend and enemy got blurred so much that they lost all distinction.

  The trust between Cal-com and Paul was different. Their allegiances were firm, and they would not waver in them one iota. Those races that did were without honor and could not be trusted, with the Preema counted amongst them. Cal-com had no firm data to work with, but he knew they were involved in this fight for internal reasons rather than because it needed to happen. If circumstances changed they’d abandon the Voku and the Dafchor knew it. They were a temporary ‘ally,’ and not truly deserving of that title. Star Force was different, and would have the Voku’s back in times of need whether it was to their advantage or not. That was their nature, and it surprised him that they could be so focused without a driving superior.

  Everything that Cal-com did was to serve the Elders. They were the stabilizing rod to the Voku, and Star Force had none. Yet they were adamant about their self-appointed mandates, not in words but in deeds. Cal-com was glad that the Elders had instructed him to save them long ago, for they were more valuable than a hundred different races like the Preema. They could be counted on, whereas most others could not be.

  A flashing orb caught the Dafchor’s attention and brought his mind out of contemplation. He pulled up the warning prompt and immediately transitioned his oracle over to a command prompt. The floors opened up and the ‘furniture’ rearranged, giving him a control station that he stepped into that allowed him to interface with his subordinates elsewhere on the planet without having to physically relocate to the planet’s main oracle.

  “They came into the system only a moment ago,” Nem-tre reported as his hologram and others appeared around Cal-com, making it appear as if he were actually on the primary oracle. “Unidentified jumpships 34 in count and growing, the first of which has made a microjump out from the star heading in our direction.”

  “Defensive formation,” Cal-com ordered. “Assume hostile, but do not fire until fired upon or my order. Get a comm prompt open immediately, all known languages.”

  “Only the one ship made the microjump,” another Voku staffer noted. “The rest are holding position in stellar orbit.”

  “Either a scout or an emissary,” Cal-com deduced calmly. “Either way they know we’re here. After this is over I want the system reswept for probes.”

  The orbital map of Inova marked a new icon decelerating to a stop just outside the range of the six conglomerates stationed nearby that were busily breaking apart into more mobile attack ships, drawing a head twitch from Cal-com. Whoever this was had powerful gravity drives to get from the star to here that fast.

  “We’re being contacted, generic comm prompt. Languages cycling.”

  Cal-com waited a moment while his staff and their automated computer systems used the puzzle pieces of the incoming transmission to match up hopefully one means of communication that both races were fluent in and after only a few seconds one was identified, with it being the old trade language that had predominated this area prior to the lizard invasion. The Voku had acquired it from Star Force, and with it the computer systems were able to translate incoming messages into Cal-com’s native language in the form of text.

  He didn’t see it until one of his staffers transferred it to his attention, then the simple message asking for him by name floated in holo before him…along with a holographic request.

  “Are we set to translate?”

  “Yes.”

  “Put it through to me,” he said, hitting a few buttons that eclipsed the view behind him with an opaque energy shield so the newly arrived ships couldn’t see where he was. After a few moments an image appeared of a triangular helmet set over what looked similar to Voku shoulders. All were armored with a glossy blue material that shone with highlights and made a very intimidating appearance.

  “Identify yourselves and state your business here,” Cal-com demanded, looking back at the alien from behind his single artificial crystalline eyepiece.

  The translation procedure was a bit delayed, as well as configured to answer in the approximate tone of the speaker if applicable, for some races communicated with all but unintelligible squawks and screeches. This one did not, and the voice seemed metallic but almost Voku, with the helmet obviously affecting the individual’s natural voice.

  “We are the Shanplenix. You requested allies in your war against the Cajdital. Until recently we did not think you capable of defeating them. Now that we know you have a viable chance, we are offering our assistance.”

  “How did you know of this system?” Cal-com demanded.

  “We may keep to our own systems, but we watch others closely. This system’s location is not known to many, but we were able to discover it none the less.”

  An information terminal to Cal-com’s left lit up with a message from his staff and he gave a displeased look at the alien. “By invadin
g their computer systems as you just tried to do with ours?”

  “Yes,” it answered unapologetically. “Most are unable to detect our presence. The fact that you can is encouraging.”

  “Cease your efforts to do so or leave this system under my fleet’s guns.”

  The alien made a ‘tisk, tisk, tisk’ sound that didn’t translate. “No need for hostilities between us, Voku. We find it easier to learn from computer tap than by conquering worlds. Most are unaware and therefore do not take issue with it. Now that we know you can, we will not attempt to do so further. Rather I will simply ask you to provide us with information.”

  “You first. Explain yourselves and what aid you think you can give us against the Li’vorkrachnika.”

  “Li’vorkrachnika? So you use their proper name? Most refer to them in a more insulting manner.”

  “Answer me,” Cal-com demanded evenly.

  “If we wished to destroy you here and now we could, but we cannot contend with the rest of your forces. Our technology and methodology may be more advanced, but our numbers are not. We possess only 3 systems, none of which have fallen to the Li’vorkrachnika, but they are too widespread for us to defeat, hence we have not tried. You seem to stand a chance of doing so and we’d like them gone.”

  “Why exactly?”

  “Aside from attacking us, futilely, they are exterminating other races. That mindset is unforgiveable. One conquers a race, they do not remove them from existence. A waste of potential and the height of arrogance. The Li’vorkrachnika are a plague in this portion of the galaxy that is only growing larger…until recently. You have made great gains, but victory is not certain. Even now the largest battle to date wages nearby, one which you are conspicuously absent from while your ally fights alone. May I ask why?”

  “You have reconnaissance there, or obtained data from outside?”

  “Your ally’s computer systems are more robust than your own. We could obtain nothing from them, but we do have a few assets on location to observe and transmit. The Li’vorkrachnika were kind enough to transport them there for us. You are finally engaged in a critical battle, one that the enemy cannot retreat from, so why are the Voku and others not there?”

  “Our ally has assured me that they can handle it. How exactly do you propose to assist?”

  “Oh we have no want to involve ourselves with anything of that scale. The Li’vorkrachnika are dangerous in such numbers. We wish to coordinate some local resistance, as well as lay claim to a few worlds in the process.”

  “Why have you not done so already?”

  “The Li’vorkrachnika are stifling trade and transit in the region. If they are gone we will be able to adopt a more public persona…though with the native inhabitants gone, there will be barren worlds up for grabs. We’d like to acquire a few specific ones and not get into a squabble with you over them, if possible. We are willing to help pacify the surrounding regions in a coordinated assault when the time comes, both out of mutual concern for the region and in compensation for the allowance. We seriously doubt your ability to maintain your hold over so much unoccupied territory in the aftermath…beneficial forthcomings assumed…and wish to cement our placement now, as well as to have a hand in guiding whatever colonization efforts you and your allies choose to allow others to make.”

  “That will depend on the specifics of your ability to ‘pacify’ and your intentions going forward. You are unknown to us, and any firm agreement will have to be sculpted over time, though your stated intent is not incompatible with our plans, as far as colonization is concerned. The issue of ‘influence’ is one that could be taken many ways.”

  “Consider us interested in who becomes our neighbors. We’re not hermits, but we do like a bit of space between us and undesirables.”

  “Define undesirables.”

  “Those which we do not get along with.”

  “With such nonspecific demands I can give you no answer.”

  “Nor should you, for we have done nothing yet. When you reach our region of space we can get more specific, but for the moment we are here to declare our intent and offer the service of the fleet you see before you in hitting a few targets alongside you. Without seeing our combat prowess there is little to discuss.”

  “I take it you have already seen ours?”

  “We have.”

  “How do you compare?”

  “Adequately.”

  “You had better not be boasting. I do not care for liars.”

  “We are not, and I will say that there are many more races out there that have been swallowed up by Li’vorkrachnika territory, yet not consumed by it. They merely wait for the opportunity to strike back. If you are savvy, you will have more allies joining you as you progress. We are a bit more forethinking than the others, hence we are here and they are not.”

  “And you wish to stake your claim first.”

  “Perhaps.”

  “Where are you located?”

  The alien made a gesture at someone off screen and a burst of data was transmitted. A long moment later, after the Voku computers sorted it out, three highlights appeared on the map within the lizards’ core region.

  7

  March 27, 2958

  Gvaris System (contested territory)

  Nephasil

  “The Archon team has successfully neutralized the planetary defense gun. Stand by for attack runs following orbital bombardment.”

  “Shit. How did they pull that off?” Jared asked the rest of his squadron who’d heard the blanket broadcast as they were holding position some 160 kilometers away from the last intact lizard city on the planet.

  “They had a trailblazer with them,” Sharon answered as she eased her heavily laden skeet up to a higher altitude along with the other 9 in her squadron and the 80 others that were joining them for this strike mission. “They can do a lot of things.”

  “Which one?”

  “Don’t know, but there are 8 here last I knew.”

  “Battlemap says Kiran,” Dohoriti clarified.

  “Son of a bitch,” Jared said in dismay. “I didn’t think they could go in on special teams to get those anymore. The lizards had to know this one was coming.”

  “Whatever the case,” Sharon said, easing to point in their loose formation, “they got it done. Now it’s our turn and don’t get cocky. Their northern LZ isn’t that far off and don’t expect the orbital bombardment to get all the anti-air guns.”

  “Relax, sis,” Kressy said from her port wing. “We’ve been doing this for two decades.”

  “And I don’t want you screwing up at the end because you got sloppy,” she reminded her fellow skeet pilot, whom she’d grown up with in the same Axius maturia class before requesting identical assignments and eventually making their way into Clan Mantle.

  “Well said,” Merty echoed, “but I highly doubt this is going to be the last engagement.”

  “Unless we royally screw up, it’ll be the last city attack on this planet.”

  “They have another, you know.”

  “One at a time,” she insisted as her battlemap began to register explosions within the distant, but visible city. Frowning, she zoomed in on her map and saw the signals from the Archon team still well within the perimeter…but the bombardment was coming down on the opposite half of the city.

  “Are they firing with them still in there?” Jared asked.

  “It’s a trailblazer,” Sharon reminded him. “Looks like they’re calling down the rain on the opposite half of the city.”

  “Reckless,” Ethan pronounced.

  “Kiran probably knows the accuracy of those naval guns better than any of us,” she defended. “If he thinks it’s safe enough I’m not going to argue.”

  “Look at the lizard LZs,” Pren said with a chuckle.

  Sharon switched her battlemap over to the nearest of the three on planet and saw the grounded ships taking off in a hurry with a few of them getting skewered by invisible Keema beams. Without that
last anti-orbital battery providing them cover the naval fleet now had firing positions on them from above…so long as the lizard fleet let them get there.

  Given that the skeets were lazily easing towards the city, Sharon switched her battlemap up to orbit and saw that things were not so calm there. Six Sentinels had been drifted into position high enough that the now dead planetary defense gun couldn’t reach them but close enough to protect the ground troops as they invaded this last city. They’d been doing the same thing for years, roaming the planet with a few patches of protection in orbit guarding their ground operations. Right now there were a total of 26 Sentinels in orbit of Nephasil, clustered in 2 other locations to protect surface sites that had Star Force infrastructure.

  The rest of the planet was wreckage, with dead cities all across the planet. When one region was cleansed it was left alone, vulnerable to lizards returning from orbital drops that the limited fleet in orbit could not stop, and even now there were probably hundreds of lizard units in hiding within the rubble on the planet and being fed by the LZs that had moved sporadically around the surface trying to stay ahead and away from the Star Force advance on the ground and the orbital strike capability of the ‘umbrella’ formations above.

  Now with all of the planetary defense guns down there was nothing keeping the Star Force fleets from roaming, save for the massive lizard fleet currently engaging them in orbit. The Sentinels were involved as well, which meant the lizards were serious about this fight and willing to lose a lot of ships to achieve their objective…though what it was Sharon didn’t know. Maybe they had been trying to protect their last city, but at this point there was no way for them to save it short of eliminating the Star Force formation in orbit.