DATE: The Year 9028 (planet: Castai III-Rex)
THE bright red glow of the binary star Casiss glided across the surface of defense probe #2041. Its mission, to hold a position in this quadrant and maintain continuous long range scans toward the home system of the Baruk, had been uneventful for the last six months since its launch. The probe sailed through a vast sea of silence. Casiss was calculated at nearly one quarter of a light year away, with none of its uninhabitable planetary bodies visible to the eye, save the electronic eye of probe #2041.
Something entered into its sensor band one tenth of a light year away from the probe. #2041 closed in on the object with its sensors to distinguish whether it might be a naturally occurring object such as a meteor. It had been the case fourteen times already since the probe took position there.
The object was quite large, but it was not following the normally erratic flight pattern of a natural space body. Quickly the sensor field was penetrated by even more similar objects; fifty in all. Each of the objects followed virtually the same flight path, putting the group on a direct course for the planet Castai.
WYNN walked through the courtyard of pools outside of the newly appointed combat training facilities. The artwork was pure Vorn from different eras he was unfamiliar with. He took note of the rich detail present in the forms; some of natural things such as native animals, and some of the Vorn race. As he came through the serene area into the main courtyard, he could hear the sounds of battle. He saw hundreds of warriors from among the Vorn race intermingled with many Castillians from nearly every tribe that had migrated across the Rift after the battle of Baeth Periege eighteen months ago.
The migration had been rather unexpected, but there had been a rally cry to join the Barudii king. The Vorn had been defeated on Tiet's home-world by Estall. The people had begun to refer to it as Castai-Ori, for origin. The twin Castai here across the rift had similarly begun to be referred to as Castai-Rexus, illustrating the presence of the Barudii King. There was at present, no king at all, but Tiet being the heir to that throne had chosen to remain on this side of the Transdimensional Rift following the battle at Baeth Periege. His desire was to remain on the sister planet of his own home world because of the likelihood of further conflict with the Horva and the impending attack of the Baruk.
Tiet as yet had assumed no formal power, but both the Castillian tribes remaining on Castai-Ori and the recently freed Vorn civilian population of Castai-Rexus were looking for leadership.
The Vorn had originally looked to Daooth or Wynn as potential leaders to unite them to face future conflicts, while the Castillians had looked to Estall as the victorious leader of the Aolene who had brought about the capture and subordination of the Vorn military on Castai-Ori.
Wynn had emphatically refused, while pointing out that he could never assume power under any circumstance so long as an heir to the throne of his people lived. With Daooth backing Wynn, and a history of relations between the Vorn and the Barudii kings of the past before the Baruk created conflict, it brought about a consensus among the Vorn to follow Wynn in backing the throne of the Barudii. Estall had also deferred to the throne of the Barudii, and hoped Tiet would step up to the task.
It all seemed a wonderful change of events to Wynn, but Tiet had not consented to ascend formally to his father's throne. It had become a matter of great frustration both to Wynn and those among the Council of the Twelve Cities that he remained reluctant. Wynn himself had spent hours trying to persuade the young man, who at times seemed that he might cave in to the pressure, but he realized that Tiet doubted himself. The deaths of his friends were still weighing heavily upon his mind.
Tiet had taken great interest in organizing civilians from among the Vorn and the migrating Castillians to form a large ground force in training. He had become obsessed with the task, in fact, leading Wynn to the conclusion it was in part to relieve himself from his own troubling thoughts concerning recent events and the deaths of those dearest to him.
Wynn ascended a stairway leading to a very long balcony that overlooked the training courtyard. He couldn't help but be delighted to see his own Castillian people training with the Vorn to fight a common foe. A dream in part had been realized with the uniting of these people and he hoped nothing would tear them apart again; but he thought it vitally important that they have the necessary leadership; and that leadership could not be served better than in the Barudii King.
Swords clashed on the courtyard as instructors from among the Aolene guided the trainees in various sparring exercises. The handsome new uniforms Tiet had designed were of the same material used in the old Barudii cloaks and rendered the wearer electronically invisible.
Various improvements from Vorn technology allowed for the E.M. shields to be reduced in size and incorporated directly into the garments along with components that provided a real-time holographic data display and nano-sensory components. These helped to mimic the Barudii kinetic ability to sense information such as number and position of combatants within a certain range.
The data created pressure sensations in the garment to alert the warrior and in effect give them perception in all directions simultaneously. Other nano-components provided scanning of one's surroundings and fed the information to the holographic display.
Today, the trainees were practicing Barudii blade techniques. Much progress had been made in the ten months since Baeth Periege had been engulfed in battle. Daily more trainees appeared as the migration from Castai-Ori continued despite the threat of the Baruk. The city had been under constant repair by numerous robot construction crews, although the cloning facility that had once been such a jewel of science for the city was never rebuilt. The Vorn Council of the Twelve Cities, named for the twelve large cities now housing the population for unification and safety concerns, had outlawed the cloning of Horva as servants.
General Grod's Horva troops provided little interference to reconstruction after their defeat. There had been a few raids on smaller cities that were nearly abandoned, but it appeared they sought supplies rather than conquest. Grod himself had been proven to still be alive; a fact that had brought considerable alarm to the Council. While there seemed to be no immediate threat, it was a definite possibility that Tiet's new recruits might face a war on two fronts if the Horva resurfaced with attacks on the twelve cities.
Wynn continued to walk the length of the balcony until he could see a group of recruits surrounding one unarmed man. The young man was blindfolded but not bound. Several of the recruits moved in to strike.
The first strike went for the face. The victim's head bobbed to one side as the strike passed before him. He quickly struck the mid-section of the attacker then swept the feet while countering another strike from a different recruit.
As the recruits moved in quickly, trying to overwhelm the man, the whole situation seemed to revert to chaos. In a matter of a few seconds, all of the recruits were tossed to the ground, leaving the man standing alone. Wynn chuckled a bit to himself as Tiet removed his blindfold and beckoned his students to their feet.
He could not hear the instructions given at that point, but soon the recruits disbanded to other exercises in the courtyard.
Tiet raised his blindfold again and replaced it over his eyes. Wynn noticed a flash of light as something caught the sun between Tiet and himself. Something whispered and kissed the railing of the balcony next to his right hand. He could see a spicor disc lodged there.
He looked back at Tiet, still blindfolded but curling his index finger in the air toward Wynn. He smiled, then stood waiting. Wynn dropped to the courtyard below as Tiet leapt at him. Wynn caught Tiet's foot and sent a fist to the groin, but Tiet's other leg had already come up and over to catch Wynn in the side of the head. Wynn stumbled as he let go of Tiet's foot, but quickly regained his composure. Tiet was standing ready and on guard; he liked training with his mentor.
Wynn smiled back at the younger man and began to think he had taught him too well in recent months. They exchanged a quick moment of fists and kicks with neither man landing a blow to advantage. Tiet was still smiling behind his blindfold.
"I've come to urge you to speak with the Council," said Wynn.
Tiet's smile disappeared. He was never pleased when this subject came up; which it often had since the Council had pressed for leadership in the months following the battle at Baeth Periege.
"We've been over this before," he said. "I am not the man to lead these people, Wynn."
Wynn could sense that this hardness was not as deep as he was trying to make it appear. They exchanged several more blows, with Wynn the more playful now. He noticed that all the commotion on the courtyard had ceased. Nearly all the recruits in the area were focused on the sparring between the Barudii.
"You've become very powerful in recent months. Far more than when we first met," said Wynn.
"All thanks to your training, I'm sure."
"Would you be up to a wager with an old man like me?" he baited.
Tiet smiled again and raised his blindfold. "Wynn, if you're trying to get me to-"
"Of course if you doubt your ability to knock me to the ground in hand-to-hand combat, I suppose I understand," Wynn interrupted.
"And if I do?"
"Then I won't bother you with the matter again."
Now he was intrigued. "Do you really mean it, Wynn?"
"I do."
That was the last word needed. Tiet launched an intensely fast barrage of attacks at Wynn. He managed to match them all, but with difficulty. The younger man had the age advantage and he was powerful. If this kind of attack continued, he might wear him down. Wynn considered it and Tiet hoped for it.
Tiet was younger, but Wynn had decades of specialized training. He deliberately faltered and Tiet took the bait. He landed a strong blow to Wynn's face. The elder man stumbled and went to one knee. Tiet approached. "Looks like you're about to lose this one, Wynn," he boasted.
"That's too bad. Do you think Orin and Dorian would be proud of your lack of resolve to assume your rightful place?" he asked with a mocking tone.
Tiet's countenance flashed through surprise and then anger. He lunged. The elder man took the opportunity and rose to meet him with a knee to the stomach; three consecutive quick blows that knocked the wind out of him. He followed the ambush with a backhand to the side of the head that sent him to the ground gasping for precious breath.
He looked up at his mentor, who was smiling at him again. He remembered the old lesson to refrain from anger in battle, as it can foil one's concentration.
"You tricked me," he coughed out.
"My dear young king, only for your own good and ours."
Wynn offered him a hand, helping him to stand again. The pride and anger were gone, replace with the knowledge that Wynn would never let the issue die.
"The Council meets tonight at dusk. Don't be late."
Wynn smiled and turned away to leave the courtyard and its stunned audience who began to whisper about the outcome. Tiet looked after the elder man, thinking himself foolish to have been baited so easily. It was so important to Wynn, this matter of the throne. He did not understand why, but a promise was still a promise.
He heard a slow clapping coming from behind him and looked to see its source. Ranul was sitting under the shade of the balcony overhead clapping sarcastically with a sly grin on his face.
"Yes, yes-very funny," said Tiet as he turned to gather up his sparring weapons from the ground.
Ranul got up and walked over to him. The soldiers were renewing their training on the grounds; pairing up as they prepared for the days to come should the Baruk actually attack.
"Now don't be mad young master; after all, Wynn means well. The people do need a leader and you are the natural choice. I'm sure Orin would have agreed."
Tiet turned to look at him. "Well, I don't know about that. Orin tended to be very protective of me."
"Maybe, he cared a great deal for you. And whether you realize it or not, he was quite proud of you."
"How do you know that?"
"I knew Orin very well back before the Vorn came. It was written all over him. He treated you like the son he never had. He would have wanted you to take your rightful place as King."
Tiet looked at him, not sure how to answer it. He was rubbing his stomach; Wynn had really laid into him.
"You should get over to the medical complex and have my daughter take a look."
Tiet smiled. "I'm not really hurt Ranul; he just knocked the wind out of me."
"It's still worth a visit, just to see Mirah. Haven't you two been talking recently?"
"A little, but…"
"But what? She's a nice girl Tiet…"
"I know."
"And she's moving up now that she's completed her residency. You're going to have to think about taking a wife someday."
Tiet looked at the donjarr on his wrist. He had still not removed it after losing Dorian. "You're a bit direct aren't you Ranul?"
"I don't mean to push Tiet, but you have to go on with your life. Dorian is gone and Orin is gone-you have to assume your responsibilities for your own good and the good of those around you."
"I just don't want to fail everyone, like I failed them."
"You didn't fail them. You fought back against those who had enslaved our people and you won. I owe a debt to you I can't repay, in receiving back my daughter. If you hadn't been set on freeing us from the Vorn she would have died in that prison cell along with the children they had captive with her. She was able to go on with her residency work and now she's turning into a fine physician; you haven't failed."
Tiet thought about it for a moment. His words were kind, but they cut him to the heart. He felt unsure of himself yet convicted of the need to serve the people.
"I had better get going Ranul. I've got to get ready for this meeting if I'm going to keep my promise."
He shook Ranul's hand and started to walk away from the courtyard.
"Tiet, don't forget. If you get a chance, go by and see Mirah. She really would like to see you. You know, she was very complimentary of the man that freed her from prison."
Tiet laughed under his breath as he continued to walk away. "Subtle, Ranul, very subtle."
GOVERNOR Tal tapped the communication panel to end the transmission to his ship. He was on board the flagship of the Baruk space fleet. He had assured his wife of his safe arrival and the time for his meeting with the Council of Three. He was quite anxious about the meeting. Since their rendezvous with the Baruk battle convoy months ago, he had not been given much information at all.
The Baruk were far too secretive for his own tastes. After all, the Vorn military and the Baruk were supposed to be allies. This meeting should have taken place just after their arrival, he thought. But he wasn't about to push the issue with the Council.
The Baruk were the most blood-thirsty clan Tal had ever known. It was dangerous enough to be their ally and the Baruk's supposed deal with the fallen angel Lucin was the stuff of legend. He was terrified of this mysterious clan.
One of the Baruk warriors came into the chamber. He was fierce looking to say the least. His black body armor was a part of him; a symbiotic coexistence. Whatever the living armor was, all of the warriors of the Baruk were joined to them. Somehow they covered and intertwined internally and externally with the Baruk, forming a living exoskeleton that protected them. Tal had seen the warriors in action before. Their exoskeletons were capable of repelling light pulse weapons fire, and the various weapons they utilized were part technology and part bio-weaponry.
The warrior motioned for Tal to follow him. They both entered the chamber of the Council of Three. Tal had only seen them once before. They were of a different caste than the warriors and they ruled the Baruk as one.
Tal came before them where they were seated upon a raised platform. They were sitting on a wide throne that seemed more organic than craft. Tal waited for them to speak, not daring to show any disrespect to them.
"You have desired an audience with us, Governor Tal?" asked one of the Three.
"Indeed, my lords. I would inquire as to your plans for retaking the planet of Castai on our behalf. We looked to you for assistance in quelling the rebellion of the Horva under General Grod, but we were overrun at Baeth Periege before you could arrive."
"Should we retake the planet it would be unwise to reinstate control to your regime Tal. You lost the planet and most of your people were killed. You lack the capacity to reign over the inhabitants."
"But we are allies. Surely you will want to help us to regain control. It is for your benefit as well-"
"Our benefit does not concern you Tal," interrupted another of the Three. "You are weak. It is time we assumed possession of Castai ourselves."
"But you can't-" he almost bit his own tongue trying to stop the words.
"Can't?" they all questioned simultaneously.
"What I mean to say, my lords, is that we have always tried to govern the territory in accord with your interests as well as our own. It would be unfortunate to dissolve that relationship now. I still have a thousand people aboard my ship who can lead the way in retaking the planet from these rebels. At your command, of course."
"Our command has already been issued concerning your people," said one of the Three.
A holographic image of Tal's vessel gliding along with the Baruk convoy appeared in the room above him. One of the Baruk ships heaved a large projectile out of one of its cannons. Tal's heart sank as the object impacted with his ship, smashing it like a glass upon the floor. A thousand-plus people, including his own wife and children were dashed to pieces in a moment. He gasped and could not breathe. He almost didn't notice the white hot needle-stick of the neurotoxin injection. He lost sensation almost instantly as he numbly fell to the ground at the feet of the soldier who had administered the poisoned weapon. His breathing slowed, and then stopped as his muscles ceased to function. He was suffocating but couldn't move to help himself, though his mind was still clear.
"We have no further need of treaty with you or your people Tal," said one of the Three. "Now that your strength has been diminished, we see Castai as ripe for the taking."
Tal could not respond. His body began to spasm from lack of oxygen. The Three hissed with delight as the Vorn Governor entered the throes of death before them.
"Housra, see to the traitor," the Three said to the soldier.
"I obey."
THE food aboard the Baruk vessel was barely palatable. Kale detested almost everything about their clan. If the Vorn military had been able to suppress the various uprisings, then he wouldn't be in this mess, he thought. Kale had been turned against his Barudii people, by Lucin himself, all those years ago and now he was paying for it.
He understood the desire of the Baruk to control the planet of Castai. It was rich in resources and perhaps, even more importantly; it was the perfect location for control of the Transdimensional Rift.
None of that really mattered to Kale at all. He had no allegiances to anyone. He took another bite of the carusk meat. It was bitter to his tongue. The Baruk loved this meal as a delicacy but that didn't surprise him. The bitterness of the meat seemed ironic to him as he thought about it. What had seemed right and good for him at one time so long ago had become ashes in his mouth.
He could not push out the thought of his brother running across the tarmac to try to save Orin. He realized that Tiet almost certainly didn't know who he was at the time; but did he now? And what if they had come face to face then, he wondered. Would Tiet have embraced his long lost brother, the betrayer of their people and their parents?
No, of course not. He would have gladly struck with all the fury he could muster. Suddenly Kale felt disgusted with everything; or perhaps only with himself. He spit the hunk of meat back onto his plate and pushed it away across the small table.
The Baruk could not be trusted. They were completely sold out to the wicked one, Lucin. The Vorn had very little understanding of the true nature of the Three that ruled the Baruk clan and their planet. They were merely a vehicle for the fallen one; a way for him to move among men and control their minds in his symbyte form.
It was Lucin who had promised him vengeance upon his father and Orin for the dishonor they had shown him; a prince of the Barudii. He only had to provide the weaknesses of their mountain cities and great power would be his. But it was a lie from the prince of lies. The death of his people and his family had brought him nothing but regret and sorrow. But he had bound himself to a fallen angel; how could he escape from such a power?
The Baruk certainly had no way of escape and they didn't want any as far as he could tell. The symbyte form of Lucin, inhabiting their bodies, gave them great power and the ability to drive out their enemies before them. Now they were on the move to Castai. Lucin would conquer it and move on through the rift to conquer the twin Castai. Only God could stop an angel and though he thought of dropping to his knees to pray; Kale knew that he was probably the last person God would want to hear from.
Normally, he might have suspected his food to be poisoned, but his personal scanner had detected nothing dangerous in the meal. It did little to console him about the possibility of the Baruk killing him. He looked at his blade upon the hard slab the Baruk called a bed. Picking up the blade he examined it a moment; this blade was his life. He knew he could never trust the Baruk and even if he could, he did not want to remain among them. But how could he escape? They had control of his ship. He heard heavy footsteps approaching his quarters.
The door opened up before the Baruk warrior. Housra quickly moved inside with his compression gun ready to terminate the Barudii on sight, but he wasn't there.
Kale looked down on the Baruk warrior from the ceiling of the compartment. He clung there via kinesis. The compression weapon used by their species swung from side to side as the warrior surveyed the compartment, stopping to examine the half eaten meal.
Kale dropped down, igniting his blade as he landed. Housra whirled around bringing his gun to bear upon the Barudii. The ignited blade divided the weapon before he could fire. The living exoskeleton sprang outward from the Baruk, striking Kale.
He was smashed backwards into the door of the compartment but managed to strike back furiously with his kinesis. The Baruk swung hard toward the other wall, but was stabilized quickly by the exoskeleton. It had appeared solid, but now morphed into obscene appendages to protect its host.
Kale brought his blade between himself and the Baruk. The symbiotic creature was reared up in a posture of aggression as it sought to strike.
One of the appendages lashed out and Kale struck it with his ignited blade. It recoiled. He moved in again, striking at the hovering tentacles and landing a blow to the warrior's leg. He severed it completely.
Another appendage knocked Kale down into the table as the Baruk fell from his wound. The morphing tentacle smashed the table flat as Kale rolled away. If Lucin had sent this warrior to kill him, more would quickly follow. He needed to get off of this ship as fast as possible.
He bolted out the door, leaving the maimed warrior and his symbiotic protector as far behind as he could. Now he just had to figure out how to get to his ship and off of this vessel alive.
ESTALL stared at the information coming onto the display as Ranul keyed in the various retrieval commands. Probe #2041 was transmitting its information on a coded band. He studied the incoming data carefully. Looking over Ranul's shoulder, Estall attempted to understand what the transmission contained, but Ranul was scanning the data too fast for him to put it together.
"Well?"
"Well, what?"
"Are you going to share with the rest of us?" he asked.
"Oh!" he said as though he had forgotten others were in the communications room with him. "The probe beyond the star Casiss has picked up a group of objects. After long range scans, it has concluded that the objects are in fact very large space cruisers on a path for Castai."
"The Baruk, I suppose."
"Well, I don't think there's any other possibility. According to the Vorn records, it's along the flight path to their territory."
"Well, we've been training for a fight; looks like we've got one."
THE Council buildings were as luxurious as any Tiet had seen among the Vorn cities. This one in Baeth Periege was perhaps the most beautiful of them all. He passed through the main hall on his way to the meeting chamber. It was lined on either side by troops he had helped to train in recent months. They looked very sharp in their uniforms, he thought. It was nice to see the peace between the Castillians and the Vorn illustrated in the new standing army.
Why did Wynn insist on trying to push him onto the throne? He certainly did not see himself as a king. He was just a young man, still in training himself-not a great man like his father. Tiet wished his father were still alive to lead this great people. He would've known what to do.
Tiet wished he had been able to really know his father, but his brother-the thought cut him to the heart. If he ever saw his brother again, he would avenge his father's death and Orin's.
Too bad the coward had taken off before he realized who he was. Tiet would have killed him. That thought gave him little joy, but seemed to satisfy his anger to some degree. Two of the acting guards opened the large main doors that allowed him into the main council chamber.
The ceiling was three stories high in the main hall and he could see that it was even higher within the meeting chamber as the doors parted before him. They revealed a very large circular room with a dome at the top. The Council of Twelve, along with their various advisers, was seated along the outer portion of the room slightly above the place where Tiet was to stand in the middle of the room and be addressed by the Council.
As he made his way into the large room he could see that the session was already beginning and apparently everyone was waiting for him to arrive. As he entered, many began to cheer and clap. This was not the sort of entrance he had expected or wanted.
He didn't feel he deserved any applause. What had he done to deserve it besides being born to a certain family and people?
He could see Wynn now. He was seated near the delegate for the city of Baeth Periege and Daooth Pasad was next to him. Daooth was a good man. He could still remember his first meeting with the Vorn in Wynn's underground dwelling and almost taking his head off, supposing him to be an enemy.
That day had been a wake up call for Tiet; learning how the Vorn were a friendly people enslaved by their own military. He had hated them for so long, blaming them for the murder of his family and his people-not realizing things were rarely as straightforward as they seemed.
He approached the podium in the middle of the chamber and waited. A glass of water was sitting on the side and he wondered if it would be inappropriate to take a big drink of it right now. His throat was getting dryer by the moment.
Everyone became quiet as the delegate from Baeth Periege stood to address the gathering. He was an elder Vorn man named Licoure. His translator pin came to life as he spoke in his native Vorn language.
"Master Soone, we are honored by your presence at this gathering and are happy you have accepted our invitation. I realize you have been approached numerous times with our offer to support your ascension to the throne Castai. I would ask that you hear us out collectively on the matter with patience, understanding our sincerity."
"I am honored by the support of all of the delegates assembled here," said Tiet, "but I fear you have placed your confidence in the wrong man to lead. I do not feel I am experienced enough in necessary matters to be worthy of such a calling."
"Then I hope we may further persuade you," said Licoure.
Another Vorn elder stood as Licoure seated himself again. Tiet recognized him as Ush, the delegate from the city Thalidi. He appeared to be very old, although Tiet wouldn't guess his age.
"Master Soone, I was in the Vorn military when the war between our peoples first began. It had been a peaceful relationship during the times before. Our peoples were like brothers. The Barudii king of that time was Isic. He was a very wise man and was instrumental in the exchange of information and technologies between our peoples.
"He and our leader were the best of friends and there was open trade and socializing between our planets and peoples. Many Vorn lived in the cities of this Castai and many Castillians lived in our cities on our home planet of Demigoth.
"Trade negotiations had only recently begun with the Baruk when a tragedy occurred. Our leader, who was greatly beloved by our people, was assassinated. When an extensive investigation was conducted, the evidence all seemed to point to a plot among the Barudii to gain trade agreements with the Baruk and push us out. The Baruk had come forth with the information, and though King Isic denied it vehemently, our people felt genuinely betrayed.
"Not long after, a group of Castillians living on Demigoth was massacred by vigilantes seeking revenge for our fallen leader. King Isic himself journeyed to Demigoth in an attempt to quell the misunderstanding and persuade the new military leadership to reenter the relationship of peace that had so long been enjoyed between our peoples. The Vorn military leadership seized Isic and his entourage and put them to death for crimes against our people.
"This was an outrage to the Castillians and war was declared. The Baruk pretended to be neutral to the conflict and made their technologies and information available to both sides. It would not be understood until much later what role the Baruk had played in instigating the war.
"The struggle lasted nearly ten years, with the Vorn appearing to be the victor. We had decimated nearly all the major cities of the Castillians on this planet before a new weapon was revealed. We would learn much later that the Baruk had provided technology to the Barudii, who created the giant Sphere weapon. By the time it was launched against us, the Castillians were all but wiped out. It would be their last attempt against us before they were extinguished as a people on this planet. The weapon's mission was to hunt down and destroy all Vorn targets; we lost millions of troops to it. It was at this time that the Vorn military turned to the scientific community in a desperate attempt to rebuild our dwindling forces. They created the Horva clones.
"The first generation clones were similar in capacity to normal humans with the exception of much greater physical characteristics. They were very superior warriors and; it soon became apparent that the Horva themselves were becoming too powerful and might well get beyond our ability to control them.
"The first generation Horva, including Grod, were replaced with a brutish new type of clone that could be easily controlled by our leaders."
"Do you mean, Ambassador Ush, that the Horva were created as slaves to the Vorn?" asked Tiet.
"Yes, exactly" replied Ush. "The Horva under Grod would, as you have seen, eventually rebel against the military. However, the brutish Horva were very useful to them in keeping the civilian population under military control.
"At a later time, when the role the Baruk had played became apparent to our people, there arose an outcry among our people to break ties with them. However, the military had treaties with the Baruk, and were determined to maintain their own power. Our people rebelled and called for new leadership, but the rebellion was quickly crushed with help from the Baruk.
"It has been their plan to gain control of this system all along. It is very rich in natural resources and they played our people against one another in hopes of destroying both. They managed to obliterate one and so severely cripple the other that we had gone under their dominion almost completely. They were just waiting for the Sphere weapon, which continued its attacks, to wipe out the Vorn completely before moving in for the takeover.
"The Vorn military's strength diminished as the Sphere attacks continued and the Horva under Grod mounted campaign after campaign of deadly attacks upon our cities that were established here on Castai. The military attempted to push through the Transdimensional Rift to other worlds when scouts came back with data to support the proposal.
"After conquering the twin Castai on the other side, it was hoped that the remainder of our people might escape the Sphere by migrating through and somehow collapsing the Rift permanently.
"During that conflict with your people, Wynn was displaced here and worked with our resistance leaders in hopes of finding some way to overthrow the military's control over the remaining population even while Grod's forces gained more and more territory and threatened our lives.
"Now that you are here, Master Soone, we have seen some of your ability. Both Wynn and Daooth Pasad have put overwhelming confidence in you. Not only do we trust their judgment but we have considered the opportunity presented to us by returning an heir to Barudii throne.
"Our people once revered your leader as much as our own, and we feel compelled to ask you to ascend to your rightful place as king and lead both of our peaceful peoples against the threat we are faced with from the Baruk and Grod."
Tiet was stunned by the whole account of Castillian and Vorn history. It was much more than he expected. The pieces to a vast puzzle seemed to fall into place now. The Baruk had begun it all and very nearly destroyed these two great races of people in their greed for conquest.
Tiet now began to understand the importance that was being placed on the Barudii throne. Perhaps it was a matter of redemption for the Vorn after falsely accusing and executing their ally of long ago; or more importantly, maybe they genuinely believed that the Barudii King was so great an icon to rally around that the peace might even last and these two races could engage the threat wholeheartedly, maybe even victoriously.
Orin had taught him years ago that the confidence you take into a battle may well determine the outcome. Tiet still did not feel confident in himself, but he did have confidence in this great people. If he was what was needed to unite them and hold them together in the face of the coming conflict then perhaps he should reconsider.
Just then, Ranul and Estall appeared in the Council chamber.
"Forgive our interruption, Ambassadors," said Estall.
"We have new information from one of our long range probes near the star Casiss."
"Tell us," said Licoure.
"The Baruk appear to have amassed a battle fleet of some fifty large vessels and many smaller ones. They're on their way," said Ranul.
"When?"
"Maybe two days, if we're lucky," said Ranul.
A wave of murmuring enveloped the large chamber of delegates and guests as the realization of the coming storm hit them. Tiet thought further on the situation as the focus left him as the delegates began talking amongst themselves, and the whole assembly generally became disorganized.
Little was known about the Baruk's true capabilities; only that they were very fierce in combat, employing various kinds of technologies and bio-weaponry. It would be very difficult to fight a war on two fronts, even though Grod and his forces were weaker than before. If Grod seized the opportunity to attack en masse again with the coalition simultaneously fighting the Baruk, it could quickly turn out for the worse.
Then Tiet was struck with a new thought. The threat to this planet was also a threat to the Horva. They had no allegiance to the Baruk and had helped drive off the Vorn military presence, which held treaty with the Baruk. This fight was Grod's fight, whether the General realized it or not.
Tiet needed the assembly's attention, and he needed it now. Then he decided to get their attention. He kicked the podium off of the raised platform. It crashed down the few steps to crash loudly on the stone floor. All eyes were suddenly upon him.
"Forgive me for the interruption, Ambassadors," he said, "but I have reconsidered and decided to accept your endorsement."
Shouts began to erupt from the audience. He interrupted them again.
"Please…My acceptance is conditional!" he said over the crowd. Everyone became quite again at this point. Tiet could see Wynn considering him.
"I will accept-on the condition that the Council endorses my going to General Grod in an attempt to broker a peace agreement and convince him to fight with us against the Baruk."
He waited after that statement, expecting a reaction. The ambassadors were all looking at one another to confer. The room was now awash in low murmurs concerning Tiet's dangerous request. Tiet stood fast and waited. After a few moments Ambassador Licoure turned back to address him.
"Master Soone, your request is troubling to say the least, but I am curious why you would think the Horva would join us?"
"I believe the main thrust of Grod's campaign and the Horva's desires all center around wanting their freedom and a fight to attain it. I think he might be willing to listen to what I have to say. He wants what we want; I just have to make him see it."
"With all due respect, we have never known the Horva, especially Grod, to be open to negotiations," said Licoure.
"I only ask for your endorsement and willingness to work with the Horva peacefully if I am successful, nothing more. If you agree, I will accept your motion that I ascend to the throne of my father."
Licoure looked back at the other delegates in the council and at Wynn who was still fixed on Tiet. The other ambassadors gestured approving nods to Licoure.
"Well, Master Soone, against my better judgment."
"I appreciate your confidence, Ambassadors." With that, Tiet turned to leave the assembly.
Wynn made his way quickly to catch up to Tiet as he walked back down the great hall.
"Wait, Tiet!"
Tiet slowed, but did not stop.
"Tiet, what are you up to? Grod won't negotiate with you. He's a brute who loves conquest."
Tiet stopped then, surprised by the statement.
"Wynn, you told me things aren't always what they appear to be. I hated the Vorn who were actually peaceful-"
"Yes, but that's not Grod at all, he-"
"He and the Horva were slaves wanting their freedom. And as for being a brute…well, he managed to destroy the Sphere weapon no one else had been able to defeat, so he must be pretty smart and he must be a great leader to have generated the successful uprising against the Vorn military."
Wynn stood silent; surprised at the wisdom pouring out of his apprentice and king.
"Besides, we cannot afford to fight a war on two fronts; without him, I think we'll lose."
Wynn had considered that aspect before and remained silent as Tiet turned to continue out. "I've got to get going on this while we still have time," he said as he punched the button to open the lift door.
"Do you really think Grod will listen or even answer your transmission?"
"I have no intention of transmitting anything. I'm going to Nagon-Toth personally."
"And do you really think he will let you just walk in?" asked Wynn sarcastically.
"We'll see."
"You realize if you go and confront him he might just decide he should join the Baruk against us. Did you consider that?"
"I'm not giving him the opportunity," Tiet said matter-of-factly. "If he doesn't join us then I'm going to kill him."
And with that Tiet let the lift door close in front of him. Wynn stood there speechless. He was certainly his father's son. The same brash determination was something he remembered from serving under the king years ago. He was glad to see these qualities emerging finally, even though he was worried about the likelihood of him being successful.