Great Hall, Imperial Palace
“Come on, Stevie! Move your ass,” called Matt Jacobs from the front of the hover sled. He felt the floating craft shudder, indicating that Hitch had jumped on board, and accelerated down the shuttle’s ramp, headed for the palace entrance. As they raced for the menacing opening in the plaza wall, javelins and occasional head sized rocks landed nearby.
“These fuzzy grasshoppers couldn’t hit an elephant in the ass,” Hitch observed. Sitting in the rear of the sled, facing the shuttles, he could see the six wheeled ABPs, autonomous battle platforms, returning fire at the catapults and ballistas that had suddenly appeared along the walls encircling the plaza. Each ABP—nicknamed battle bots by the crew—mounted a multi-barreled 15mm rail-gun cannon much like those carried by the male polar bears.
Aimed by a combination of Radar and LIDAR, the battle bots were capable of shooting down incoming artillery and mortar rounds. Against javelins and 30kg rocks they were not as effective. The javelins were almost too small to target and hitting a rock had a tendency to turn one incoming object into several, scattered over a wider area. Instead of trying to intercept the incoming, the battle bots concentrated on the sources of the fire.
With their large ammo capacity, the ABPs carried something that the bears generally did not—canister rounds for the cannon. More accurately, bundles of flechettes fired like large shotgun rounds. If the smaller, multi-barreled flechette guns were fire hoses of death, a 15mm firing canister sent a tsunami of death downrange. If the Ktchzz tried to overwhelm the shuttles or the returning shore party by shear weight of numbers they were in for a very nasty surprise.
“We’re taking fire,” observed Jacobs, upon entering the palace proper, “You might want to consider returning some.”
“You got it, Matt.” Hitch turned to face forward and began to fire at clusters of aliens as they flashed by the speeding sled.
* * * * *
“Ahoy the launch, this is the Captain. Belay your fire forward, we are directly in front of you.” It had taken Jack only a few seconds to realize where the green tracer rounds streaking overhead had came from.
“Roger, sorry Sir,” came Hitch’s reply. The Captain’s party watched as the hover sled fishtailed wide around the corner and headed down the side vault toward the diplomat rescue party. From the rear of the sled, Hitch could be seen waving happily.
“Those two are seal-shit crazy,” commented Bear, watching the sled disappear into the gloom. Coming from Bear, that was more a complement than a criticism.
“I’m afraid those two welcome any opportunity to put on battle armor,” Jack agreed.
“I am thankful that they do,” added Ludmilla. “They rescued Chief Zackly and me from the clutches of the UN in Vienna.” Ludmilla paused for a minute, conversing on another frequency. “Captain, I think that I need to accompany the wounded back to the ship. It sounds like Midshipman Tanner is seriously wounded and de Belcour is in critical condition.”
“Certainly, Doctor. That makes good sense,” the Captain replied. “Launch, Captain. Jacobs, stop at the foot of the stairs on your way out and pick up Dr. Tropsha. She will see to the wounded while returning to the ship in shuttle two.”
“Aye aye, Captain.”
“Captain, we should move out and suppress some of this alien arrow and spear fire,” Bear suggested. They were receiving sporadic but increasing amounts of incoming.
“Do it,” the Captain said, and the squad quickly spread out across the junction between the side vaults and the main hall.
“Gunny, we are going to move out into the main vault and lay down covering fire. To make sure Dr. Tropsha has room to work, we will take Inuksuk and Aurora back in shuttle one.”
“Roger that, Sir. We are coming up on your position now.”
The first to arrive was Aurora, who half slid around the corner on the slick stone flooring. She took up a position on the right side of the departing hallway, across from Isbjørn on the left. Together they began working their way toward the exit while hosing down the space ahead with crisscrossing fire.
The sled arrived next, rapidly slowing to a halt to allow Ludmilla to board. Hitch, who was wearing heavy armor, jumped out to make room and assist the Doctor in boarding. As the sled resumed its journey, Ludmilla was already deep in conversation with HC2 White regarding the condition of the wounded. Over the radio Jacobs was heard yelling “coming out,” causing the two female bears to temporarily lift their murderous barrage.
“OK, let’s get out of here,” Jack called. The Marines moved out in good order, leapfrogging positions to maintain cover fire. Inuksuk arrived with the SEALs bringing up the rear of the formation.
“Good hunting?” Bear asked, a traditional greeting between male polar bears.
“An embarrassing surfeit of prey,” Inuksuk replied. The two bears took up positions on either side of the Captain, cannon at the ready.
“If you don’t mind Captain, we’d like to leave our hosts a little departure gift,” said Chief Morgan.
“Quickly, Chief,” was the terse reply. “Back to the shuttle, my ursine friends,” he said to his two oversized bodyguards. Striking out for the ship, Jack pointed the way with the Ktchzz general’s sword in his left hand.
* * * * *
The Captain and his escorts arrived at the shuttle’s ramp just after shuttle two took off, rapidly climbing into the sky and quickly vanishing. He stopped at the base of the ramp, waiting for the SEALs to catchup. As they waited, the remaining ABPs returned to their bays on the shuttle’s underside and the two bears began an impromptu gunnery contest—alternately picking off observation towers overlooking their position.
Jones and Kowalski ran by and up the ramp. Chief Morgan slowed to a stop in front of the Captain and asked, “permission to deliver departure gift, Sir?”
“Permission granted, Chief,” Jack replied with a tight smile. He wasn’t sure, but he had a pretty good idea what form of present the SEALs had left for their hosts. Morgan smiled back and manipulated something on his belt. Behind him a series of bright flashes could be seen lighting up the dark interior of the palace’s great vaulted hall. The huge masonry barrel began to crumple in apparent slow motion—partly due to the lighter gravity but mostly because of the structure’s great size. The grand palace of Pzzst collapsed into a cloud of dust and rubble.
“Well done, Chief,” Jack said approvingly. “Everyone on board.” The Chief SEAL and the two polar bears climbed aboard, leaving the Captain alone at the foot of the ramp. He raised the jeweled and engraved scimitar above his head, holding it blade up and parallel to the ground.
Take a good look, you hairy bastards,
he thought savagely,
and think twice before crossing us again.
Jack ascended the ramp. Seconds later the shuttle made way for orbit and rendezvous with the Peggy Sue. The sonic boom from the shuttle’s departure echoed over the ruins of the Queen’s palace like rolling thunder—an ominous portent to all in the surrounding city.
Chapter 18
Main Lounge, Peggy Sue, Pzzst Orbit
The Peggy Sue remained on heightened alert. The Captain called a meeting of his officers and staff four hours after the shore party returned to the ship. As usual, the large crowd met in the main lounge. Underscoring the alert status, an armed Marine guard stood outside each entrance to deter casual traffic. Present at the main table were Lcdr. Curtis, Lieutenants Taylor, Bear, and Medina. Among the junior officers only Midshipman Tanner was missing. Representing the crew and Marines were Chief Zackly and Gunny Rodriguez.
From the science section most were in attendance. Only the medical section lacked representation, the entire staff still tending the wounded. Ludmilla in particular, had been operating on Jean-Jacques de Belcour for hours in a frantic race to save the Frenchman’s life.
“You all know why we are here,” the Captain said, the room falling silent as he began to speak. “On a peaceful, diplomatic mission to the planet Pzzst our people were attacked without warning and their persons accosted in a most reprehensible and abominable manner. The heinous nature of this attack is almost beyond comprehension.” Jack let his words sink in for a few seconds before continuing.
“We have lost one member of the science section, Dr. Sally Li, and the life of Jean-Jacques de Belcour hangs in the balance. Midshipman Tanner was also gravely wounded but is expected to recover, as is Kim Lawson, whose wounds were not life threatening. Given the perfidious nature of the attack and the viciousness with which it was carried out, some form of response is warranted.” Jack looked around the table at those assembled. “I seek your council as to the nature of that response.”
“Captain, have you considered that the actions by the natives may have been in line with their cultural norms?” asked Olaf Gunderson.
This brought harsh whispers from the crowed. Keeping his features carefully neutral, Jack said, “go on, Dr. Gunderson.”
“These creatures obviously have a reproductive cycle similar to some insect species on Earth, where a host is needed for the development of eggs into larvae,” Olaf explained. “Those that kill their hosts are called parasitoids, and some species have been used as natural pest controls in agriculture.”
“What are you trying to say?” asked Dieter Schmitt. “That they were just behaving naturally?”
“Consider how such a species would develop as it evolved higher intelligence. Certainly they would use prisoners and vanquished enemies for hosts. The exchange of hosts might even become a part of normal diplomatic relations.”
“Are you saying that Sally, the Frenchman and the others were mistaken for diplomatic gifts?” JT asked, in a low voice.
“I’m just saying that what happened might have been a misunderstanding, that’s all. And that we should not rush to judge the Ktchzz so quickly.”
“You actually believe that such actions can be dismissed so lightly?” asked an indignant Elena Piscopia. “That it is our fault because we didn’t understand these horrid creatures’ vicious ways?”
“That doesn’t explain why the bugs in the throne room attacked us as well,” Bear growled. “I think they intended to treat us like prey from the start.”
“The diplomats fought back!” argued Olaf. “That might have constituted a grave breach in protocol.”
“They were supposed to just let the hairy crickets ram those spiked egg injectors into them?” asked the Gunny with a dangerous edge to her voice. “You didn’t meet those things up close and personal, Doctor.” Her tone made ‘doctor’ sound like an insult. Others echoed the Marine’s sentiments and the meeting verged on spinning out of control.
“Steady on,” the Captain said. The tumult in the room quickly died out. Jack looked around the room, making eye contact and allowing everyone to draw a deep breath before continuing. “So you would council restraint, Dr. Gunderson?”
“I’m only trying to see this from the alien’s perspective, Captain,” Olaf replied. “I liked Sally as much as anyone and her death is a horrible, tragic loss. But I think she would make much the same arguments as I am, were she here.”
“Sally died in agony with a barbed alien sex organ jammed into her stomach and a gut full of eggs that were supposed to hatch out and eat her alive,” The Gunny spat. “I doubt she would say anything remotely like the crap you are feeding us.”
Taken aback by the Gunny’s vehement remarks, a subdued Olaf said, “I’m sorry. My assistant Kim was attacked as well and would have suffered the same fate if not for Chief Morgan.”
“Noted,” Jack said. “Any other comments?”
“What are our options, Captain?” asked Yuki Saito.
“We can send them a strongly worded communique before leaving for our next destination.” That brought angry scoffs from several of the younger officers. “We can destroy what’s left of the palace complex, destroy the city or even burn every inhabited site on the planet down to bedrock.”
“Exterminate them?” asked Rajiv Gupta. “Commit genocide? Wouldn’t that make us as bad as the Dark Lords we are fighting?” This last comment brought a renewed buzz.
“What is the mood among the crew, Chief?” the Captain asked of Chief Zackly.
“What happened down there wasn’t right, Captain, and the crew knows it. They want justice for that poor woman who died and the others who got wounded.”
“And how about the Marines, Gunny?”
“We saw what those bugs did first hand, Sir. Maybe we shouldn’t exterminate them all, but what they did calls for more than a slap on the wrist.”
“So most of you think that sterilizing the planet is a bit of an overreaction?” Nods and murmurs of agreement. “But that some forceful response is called for?” Muted acclamation.
“This isn’t just blind vengeance, is it Captain?” Sandy McKennitt asked. The young lieutenant looked truly upset. “I mean, what the aliens did was wrong, wasn’t it?”
“Again I ask, how can we judge them?” Olaf said, drawing angry looks from several others.
The Captain steepled his fingers in front of his chin, an indication of deep thought. After a moment, he cleared his throat. The room went deathly silent.
“Not judging the actions of the Ktchzz because they are aliens smacks of cultural relativism on an inter-species level,” he pronounced. “There existed human cultures where unwanted babies were exposed on a hillside for the gods to decide their fate. In others, captured prisoners were ceremonially sacrificed, beating hearts ripped from still breathing chests. Even today, there are those who think it is acceptable to mutilate the genitals of young girls to make them ‘less excitable’.” He paused to look at the assembled faces.
“We find these actions, these ideas unacceptable, though they were arguably acceptable to the societies that practiced them. The point is, there are such things as moral and immoral behavior, right and wrong, good and evil. To help the helpless is good, to intentionally harm the innocent is evil. These creatures did not even bother to check if the diplomats were intended as sacrifices—in my book, that makes their actions wrong irrespective of their biological or evolutionary background.”