Star Force: Intellect (SF85) (Star Force Origin Series) Read online

  “Why.”

  “That could cover a wide range of topics,” the Fassna said evenly.

  “Pick one.”

  “Why do you not eat meat?”

  “First off…it’s gross. But I actually did, when I was young. Never really understood what it was that I was eating in the beginning and just regarded it as food until I learned later that I was eating someone’s body parts. There’s a lot of ways to disguise that fact…grinding, mixing, coating, drying. But you’re still eating a person’s body. I don’t hold it against people who eat the dead in emergency situations, but to do so when not necessary is uncivilized. And killing for it is never acceptable.”

  “Not even in emergency situations?”

  “No.”

  “You would starve to death rather than kill a primitive creature?”

  “I have no problem killing when it’s justified. But killing to eat isn’t one of those situations. Why should another die so that you can live another day or two? They have as much right to live as you do. Where is the logic in that?”

  “Priorities.”

  “What priorities?”

  “The dominant have priority.”

  Davis crossed his arms over his chest. “So if I’m superior to you I have the right to kill and eat you if I so choose?”

  “Yes…if that dominance is not an opinion but an obvious fact. Those races that cannot communicate are decidedly inferior.”

  “It is the place of the strong to protect the weak, not eat them.”

  “Very few think as you do on the subject.”

  “Good thing we’re winning then.”

  “Why do you not enslave others?” Kirritimin asked, realizing he did have a lot of ‘why’ questions in his mind.

  “Freedom is a right of all individuals. Sometimes it is restricted by necessity, but when respected it can never be permanently revoked. The prisoners we take do not have freedom of movement, but they are not required to do anything. That part of freedom is maintained, and their freedom of movement will resume after a specified period of time. It may be a long time, but we have no permanent prisoners. Everyone has a chance to regain their full freedom.”

  “Yet your civilization has many limitations.”

  “If you see freedom as in having the ability to do harm to others without consequence, then that definition is accurate, but not the only definition. Another type of freedom is being free from harm. That is the type we structure our civilization on, though the Archons have both. We’re the good guys, so we don’t harm others because we can, but we don’t have any restrictions.”

  “Your strong have more freedom than your weak?”

  “With power comes responsibility. Those who live up to that responsibility are granted more freedom. Our younglings have the least, but they too can earn their freedom by completing their basic training. It all comes down to being able to identify where to step in and interfere and where not to. Sometimes you need to interfere to preserve freedom, or to simply save a life. Other times people need the ability to make mistakes from which to learn. But if you have people killing other people then those people don’t have a chance to learn and grow, therefore that aspect of freedom is reserved for those of us who know when someone needs killing.”

  “Yet you do not execute prisoners?”

  “If we want someone dead, we don’t take them prisoner to begin with.”

  “And if you change your mind about one that you already have prisoner, do you release them with a head start then hunt them down?”

  “No. If we’ve taken someone prisoner we honor the responsibility therein without exceptions.”

  “So you will not kill me under any circumstances?”

  “You’re not a prisoner anyway, and no, we’re not going to kill you. I would have thought you’d have figured that out by now.”

  “You are learning more and more of what I have done. Opinions can change.”

  “I’m simply granting you a second chance. What is done is done. If you are no longer a threat I see no need to hold you accountable for actions that were forced upon you.”

  “I could have chose to die and not help.”

  “You could, but you didn’t in exchange for sparing the lives of others. I’m not saying that was the right choice to make, but take away the coercion and you’re not a threat, are you?”

  “My skills are.”

  Davis smiled. “My people are better.”

  Kirritimin looked at him silently, then remembered that he could see what he was thinking. “I do not think so.”

  “You’ve been fighting against us for a very long time now. Tell me where I’m mistaken.”

  “Your technology has given you an edge. Without it the techniques the Li’vorkrachnika employ would have overwhelmed you.”

  “Numbers gave them an edge. Without that we would have overwhelmed you with our skill.”

  The Fassna considered that a moment. “Their race naturally reproduces faster. All things being equal, they will always have a numbers advantage.”

  “Naturally? I thought they manufactured personnel?”

  “That is how they reproduce.”

  “Now. How did they originally reproduce?”

  “I do not know. It has been this way as long as I have been aware of their existence.”

  “If taken with even resources, I would bet my people could outthink you.”

  “You are mistaken.”

  “Care to put that to the test?”

  “War simulations?”

  “Of a sort. These are more complex though, and it will take you time to adapt to them. Also, you will not be utilizing Li’vorkrachnika. A generic will be supplied, or in later stages, a number of existing or previously existing races.”

  “So you wish to test my skill?”

  “It is a request, not an order. If you want to have no further discussions with us you will be taken to a colony where you can live quietly by yourself or integrate with the local community. You will have your freedom, but I would suggest not telling others of your history. There are still many who hate the Li’vorkrachnika for what they’ve done.”

  “And my safety would be in jeopardy?”

  “We do not lock down our population for fear of them harming one another. If someone does we identify them and remove them so they cannot do so again. This keeps things peaceful for the most part, but if someone does not care for the consequences they can harm another before we get to them.”

  “That is your definition of safe?”

  “We do not like our population to be weak, so we train them in the maturias to defend themselves, hopefully long enough for security to get to them. Ensuring no possibility of harm or death to an individual would require total isolation.”

  “Which you have in your prisons?”

  “Yes. We take no chances with them.”

  “But the rest of your population has the option to kill another?”

  “We can’t take all risk out of life.”

  “So I am not truly free to leave?”

  “If you don’t tell anyone your history you are safe enough. If you want to leave Star Force territory entirely you can manage that on your own. We won’t stop you, and there are plenty of civilian trade routes you could book passage on.”

  “I would have nothing to bargain with without exposing my identity and my skillset.”

  “Not immediately, but you could find employment for a short period of time to acquire the necessary credits.”

  “An amusing thought, but I have no wish to leave and my only priority now is to assist you in recompense for my past actions.”

  “Then keep asking questions.”

  “Why do you not allow your member races some form of control of your empire? If they were subordinate your dominance would be understood, but to equate them as peers and allow them no leadership seems hypocritical.”

  “My homeworld experimented with democracy for some time…and it proved to be an utter failure. Appo
inting individuals to leadership positions they did not earn was a disaster. Here, all races can advance based off their merits. You’ve misinterpreted the structure of Star Force.”

  “Yet all of the leaders are Human.”

  “All of the leaders at this point are those that have the most experience and skills. With the Archons our positions are measured very pointedly to determine our ranks. Less so in other aspects, but the measurement is there none the less. Star Force started out as Human only, hence those with the most experience are Humans.”

  “Truth or a convenient lie?”

  “Truth.”

  “Yet you maintain full command personally?”

  “I have the most skills.”

  “And if another improved to exceed you?”

  Davis smiled. “Then I would happily turn over the position of Director. Being wiser than everyone else has the disadvantage of having no one of higher rank to learn from. If someone exceeds me, then I will have a chance to learn from them and that would make me very happy. It is one benefit of being an Archon as well that I do have, for I am nowhere near the strongest or wisest in that regard, but as far as Monarchs are concerned, no one is my equal.”

  “And you are sad about your dominance?”

  “In a way, yes.”

  “Would not an equal be a threat?”

  “No.”

  “Why?”

  “Because the good guys aren’t threats to one another. Bad guys are, and you’ve been living with bad guys for a very long time now.”

  “And what if I am a bad guy as well?”

  “You’re not. I have a knack for picking them out. You’re not one of the good guys either, or I’d know that too. You’re what most of this galaxy is…neutral. You can veer one way or another, but in your core you are neither bad nor good. That can make you dangerous, which is why all Monarchs and Archons have to be good guys.”

  “How do you possibly measure something like that?” Kirritimin asked, assuming that such platitudes held no actual substance.

  “We have our ways. If you do not believe good guys exist, then explain how our empire remains united.”

  “I cannot.”

  “What did the Li’vorkrachnika think?”

  “They did not have issue with it. They are used to obedience, so the idea of internal discord is foreign to them. They see it in others, but they do not expect it as fundamental because for them it is not.”

  “I think you’re wrong about that. They just are very good at covering it up. Next question?”

  “Why do you exist?”

  “We are peacekeepers. Do not mistake the word, for it can have several definitions and Li’vorkrachnika terminology is still a little rough for me, but it means that we are guardians that seek out injustice and put a stop to it. It does not mean that we are built for peace, but that we create peace via waging war of all types, large and small. Some people think peacekeepers abhor war, we do not. We like war. It’s how we get rid of the bad guys.”

  “And bad guys can’t be rehabilitated?”

  “No, they can’t. Fortunately there aren’t very many of them out there…not the pure hearted bad guys anyway. But neutrals can stray so far dark that it is almost impossible for them to come out of it. We give people a chance, but don’t expect most to right themselves. Sadly the environment one lives within can sway neutrals one direction or another. We use this to our advantage with the way Star Force is built, so we can sway neutrals towards the light, but it can and does work the reserve direction in other civilizations. We have had considerable experience with this, especially in regards to the Protovic. Are you aware of that more recent history?”

  “Bits and pieces. Your public records are incomplete regarding much of the origins of the various Protovic breeds.”

  “One originated from a very bad civilization we had to conquer and destroy. We saved the people and gave each of them a path to their freedom, but only a small fraction were able to pull themselves out of the depravity forced upon them. Those that did not fully accept it were killed, leaving only those who could blend in or those that were fanatical to remain. We gave them all a chance, but as expected most would not change.”

  “Why bring me here then when I have been in a bad civilization so long?”

  “The choice was not mine, but I agree with those that made it. Your mind is fractured, I can feel it, but already you are recovering. You may not be one of the good guys, but you are extremely impressive and worthy of respect. Your skills could be put to use here if you so choose, but even if not you deserve a chance like everyone else.”

  “And beyond war games, what would that chance entail?”

  “You’ve lived amongst the Li’vorkrachnika for so long your mind is clouded with their darkness. Make no decisions now. Live among the light for a while, soak it in, and let the decisions happen later. There is no rush, and your body is incredibly resilient to have lasted this long without training. Simply exist with us, keep yourself occupied with the war games for now, but let things develop as they will over time. I think that eventually you’ll be able to chart your own course once the damage done to you heals, but you’ve got a long journey ahead. Whether or not you begin it is up to you, and if paying penance for your past actions is the motivation you need then so be it, but know that I do not hold you to that promise.”

  “You truly want to help me for my own sake, in addition to what my skills could offer you?”

  Davis smiled and shrugged. “To be honest we don’t need you. We’re fine as is. But once you recover, if you feel like adding to our strength we’d be more than happy for your assistance. You’ve survived a long ordeal that no one should have to go through. Unfortunately life doesn’t play fair, but Star Force does. We may not be able to counterbalance what the Li’vorkrachnika have done to you and your race, but you’re still here, and we’re going to help you if you’ll let us.”

  “I still do not understand your motivations, but as you said, I’m carrying a great deal of internal damage. I agree to stay with you and learn what I can.”

  “Even if you don’t believe anything will come of it?”

  “At this point I have nothing left to lose, so I will abide by your wishes and assist you as I can.”

  “Fair enough,” Davis said, standing up and spinning his chair around so he could sit down in it backwards and lean his arms on the backrest. “Now, my time for questions. Tell me what you know of the sovereigns…”

  8

  April 7, 3235

  Krachnika System (occupation zone)

  Michra

  The mastermind walked out of a transport and onto a section of the planet that had yet to be rebuilt. Rubble still covered most of the world, but there were sections of it that were being remade at a furious pace in addition to the intact region that had been spared combat save for the massive defense turrets and shield generators…and anything close to them when Star Force had bombarded them into oblivion.

  For whatever reason, Paul wanted to meet with him in the rubble rather than in one of the intact cities, having selected this location a few hours ago and given the coordinates for their rendezvous so he would have a chance to pick away at his thoughts to ensure that he was living up to their bargain.

  Which he was. There was no value in trying to work around the Archon or Star Force when they’d given him a legitimate pathway to follow. As considerate as they were being, the mastermind had no doubt that any deception would have consequences. The Archons were ‘compassionate’ when they chose to be, but only a fool would think of them as forgiving or naïve. It was best that he not cross them, and he’d learned by now that working with them was going to gain him more than some pathetic attempt to do them harm.

  All the ships he commanded were transports, and though they had a few defensive weapons on them none could be considered warships. Those had been confiscated and destroyed, but he did need as many jumpships as he could get his hands on and had even received permission to bu
ild some on planet. Right now there were two working shipyard slips on the surface with another 18 under construction, and partially completed hulls in the pair.

  All the other ships were captured during battle and turned over to him for use and repair. A few had to be brought down to the planet and grounded because structural components had been torqued so badly that without an orbital shipyard full repairs couldn’t be made. Had he still been at war that wouldn’t have mattered, but there was no reason to tolerate such imperfections when he had the ability to fix them.

  The same went for the planet, though there was so much here to fix that it would take a long time, especially considering that certain aspects of production were taking priority over others. With more and more convoys of lizards coming in he had to make sure to have facilities ready to accept them and their labors, for he didn’t want anyone sitting around doing nothing while waiting for factories or equipment to be built.

  But handling population was easy for him. The Li’vorkrachnika produced so much so fast that they naturally knew how to organize and manage the masses. The genetic locks no doubt helped keep everyone in line, and since his newfound ‘freedom’ the mastermind had been studying their genetic code closely, yet finding nothing he could undo without unraveling the whole of his now pirated civilization.

  He no longer served the templars, but his minions didn’t concern themselves with such things. They were bred to obey him and so they did, carrying out assigned tasks and doing it for their civilization even though this was now a rogue offshoot and under the care of their most hated enemy…and that was a well-earned distinction, for over the millennia the Li’vorkrachnika had fought and beaten many opponents that pushed them to their limit, but none had overcome and risen to dominate and punish them like Star Force had. Their ruined homeworld lay as testament to that fact.

  But the lie of his own creation was something he sought to unravel, and without alteration Paul was not going to let him produce more population. Right now that wasn’t a concern given how many Li’vorkrachnika were being recovered elsewhere, but eventually that number would dwindle and he’d be fixed with a neutral or negative population curve. He had to find a way to unlock the minions, but in every simulation that he had run they became unstable.