The War of Pawns (The Human Chronicles -- Book Three) (18 page)

“Explain,” Yan’wal commanded.

Canel studied the data for a moment longer before responding. “The energy signature of the ship is near perfect. There are harmonic vibrations like I’ve never seen before. For a ship of such advance design to be communicating through such a primitive method is very strange, My Lord.”

“They could be trying to deceive us regarding the level of their technology,” said Giodol. “And they may be underestimating our own level of scanner technology, allowing us to see through their ruse.”

“That may be so. But as of now, we have no reliable intelligence as to their capabilities. Meeting with these creatures might be able to provide us with an insight. Do you see any danger to the fleet from our meeting with them, Canel?”

“None that I can see at this time. There appears to be only one ship. I would suggest we bring whatever delegation they have aboard the
UN-444
.”

“No,” said Yan’wal firmly. “Send a delegation comprised of Fleet Commander Siegor and Counselor Haden aboard
their
ship. We must be able to discern all we can of the ships’ abilities and weaponry. We would learn nothing by bringing them aboard here.”

“Very wise decision, My Lord,” Canel replied.

Yan’wal turned to Giodol. “Siegor has interrogated Humans before. I want his assessment as to their state of mind in light of our impending attack.”

“I will summon the Fleet Commander.” Giodol turned to Canel. “Send a response to the link, and prepare a shuttle.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Secretary of State Jonas Lofton was ashamed of himself. After 32 years in government service, and having served in nearly every capacity, he should have had been better prepared for his current assignment. Yes, these were
aliens
he was supposed to negotiate with, but they were still intelligent beings with wants, needs and desires. And negotiation was what Jonas Lofton did best, at least that was the theory.

But now all he felt was a sickening knot in his stomach, along with a mouth so dry he could hardly form a coherent sentence. He took another drink of water, hoping it would help, but all it did was make his stomach growl, adding another level to his discomfort.

The simple message had been received less than 15 minutes ago, and already a sleek, white shuttle was nearing their ship and maneuvering toward the loading bay under the disk-shaped spacecraft. In mere minutes, Lofton would be face-to-face with another alien species, and one intent on killing every man, woman and child on the Earth. And the scariest part of it all, the Juireans were fully capable of doing so.

So Jonas Lofton, along with Matt St. Claire, Jerrod Llewellyn and that Neanderthal, General Daniels, would soon be opening the most important negotiations in the history of mankind.

As Siegor and Haden stepped out of the shuttlecraft, they were surprised to find that the Human delegation was not there to greet them. Instead, there were just a couple of filthy Jakreans to escort them to the meeting place.

Offended at first, Siegor soon began to take advantage of the situation by slowing his cadence and taking more time to study the makeup and layout of the ship he found himself in. With an official delegation at his elbow, it would have been much harder for him to feel the integrity of the welds, or to peer into the various open rooms they passed on the way to the meeting.

By the time they entered the room where the four Humans waited, Siegor was already feeling anxious. This ship was the most sophisticated spacecraft he’d ever seen. And if the level of weaponry matched the level of workmanship, then his Juirean brothers may be in for more than they bargained for.

These Humans, for the most part, were heavier and older than the two he’d interrogated aboard his flagship after the battle of Dimloe. As the Juireans entered the room, the four of them shot to their feet and bared their teeth at them. Both Juireans fought to maintain control; after all, these Humans may be of a different breed than the ones he’d met before. But still, if they did not moderate their challenge, this meeting may have to end prematurely.

As with all the Humans he’d seen or met before, these creatures were much shorter than the Juireans, and these particular ones did not seem to possess the muscularity that the others enjoyed.
Definitely a different breed
, Siegor thought. These may be the administrators, and therefore not in need of such physical conditioning.

And then the one with the grayest hair was speaking.

“I am Jonas Lofton,” he said in a voice much higher than Siegor remembered from his prior encounter with the aliens. “I am what’s called the Secretary of State for the country of the United States of America. I am our top negotiator.” He then turned to the others, introducing them by name and title.

Siegor could care less what their names were, but he followed suit, and introduced himself and Counselor Haden. And then Haden spoke up. “You sent a message requesting this meeting. In it you mentioned a misunderstanding. From what we have learned of your kind, there is no misunderstanding. You intend to invade Juirean space at your earliest opportunity. We cannot allow that.”

Matt St. Claire could feel the blood drain from his head.
We intend to invade?
That was just what Adam Cain said was in the message he’d attributed to the Klin, and of which the Klin Ambassador had denied existed. He looked over at Jonas and saw him sweating profusely.

“Pardon me, Secretary Lofton, but I need to ask our guests a question.” Lofton seemed relieved by the interruption.

“Please. Go right ahead,” Lofton said, lifting the glass of water that sat on the table before him, and taking another large gulp.

St. Claire took a deep breath, and then looked at the two huge aliens seated across from him. “Pardon me, but we have conflicting information about a message that you may have received regarding this supposed invasion of Juirean space. I can assure you that we Humans sent no such message, and that we have absolutely no intention of engaging in a conflict with your kind.”

“The message was clear, as were the words of the other Humans I have personally encountered prior to this meeting.”

“Can you please indulge me as to the contents of this message?”

The Juirean – Siegor was his name – looked at him from across the table, a dark-eyed, steely stare that sent a chill down St. Claire’s spine. He was hoping that the Juireans were not very proficient at reading Human body language, otherwise they would have known St. Claire was about to have a heart attack.

“The message spoke of your plans to invade Juirean space, and that your timetable for doing so was three years hence. It clearly mentioned the two most recent conflicts we had with your kind in Sector 17. In addition, I have met with two of your race in person. Of course, they were of a younger variety and possibly of a different breed, but they were very adamant regarding your plans to supplant us as leaders of The Expansion.”

St. Claire couldn’t help but slump down in his chair. Could Cain have been right all along? Or did Cain send the message himself? But to what end? St. Clair had read Cain’s service jacket; he was a 4-0 sailor, a dedicated SEAL, as well as a family man. If he was behind the message, all he would succeed in doing is get his family killed – along with himself. Yet if the Klin had sent the message…

“Fleet Commander Siegor,” St. Claire began. “I think I can spread some light on this entire affair. I’m sure you’ve heard of a race called the Klin—”

“The Klin! Of course we have. So you
are
working with them?” Siegor began to rise from the table.

“No, Commander. We are not working with them in any capacity to wage war against your kind. In fact, we now have reason to believe that the
Klin
may have maneuvered both of our races into this potential conflict.”

Siegor sat back down. “Continue.”

“The Klin have been on Earth for over eight years now, but they have been only helping us with small technological advances in the areas of manufacturing and energy. The Human race is very primitive compared to both the Juireans and the Klin. We do not possess space travel beyond chemical rockets to our nearby moon. In fact, it was only today that I, and my colleagues here, have ever been aboard a spaceship.”

The Juirean stared at him for several seconds, and then glanced at the other Juirean at the table. The other creature leaned forward. “I am Counselor Haden. I am the personal advisor to Senior Overlord Yan’wal Ra Melk. What do you know of the Klin and their association with the Juirean race?”

“I have read a report. It was prepared several years ago, but it does speak of the time when the Juireans attacked the Klin homeworld.” St. Claire paused, so he could see the reaction on the faces of the Juireans. There was none.

“That is correct. The Klin committed a grave injustice on the Juirean race. We were justified in our actions.”

“I am not here to judge,” St. Claire quickly said. “All I’m trying to convey is that the Klin may have a motive for wanting our two races to war. But I must assure you both, the Humans of Earth mean you no harm or ill will whatsoever. There is no reason for you to attack us. We are not a threat to you.”

“And what of this ship?” the Juirean named Siegor asked. “The sophistication of its design is beyond even what we can manage.”

“It is a Klin ship. They provided it to us for our meeting today.”

The two Juireans looked at each other quickly, their eyes growing wide. “The Klin know of this meeting? Did they encourage it?” Haden asked.

“Yes they did.”

“Oh shit!” General Daniels said for the first time.

“What’s wrong?” Llewellyn asked, turning to face the general.

Daniels looked at the scientist with a wry expression. “Why would the Klin set up this whole war scenario, just to turn around and help us diffuse the situation?”

Just then, the occupants of the room could hear a low, steady hum suddenly grow louder throughout the ship. And then the spacecraft suddenly jerked sideways slightly, once, then twice.

“What was that?” Lofton asked.

“Those are bolt shots.” said Siegor, rising from his seat.

“Are we being fired upon?”

“No.
This
ship is doing the firing.”