The Third Cycle of Time-Chapter 14

From: Cheryl Baumgartner(C Baumgartner, Posted Date: Jul 16th, 2011

The energy beam approached. The gravitational field of the blue dwarf affected its course causing the beam to strike 20 miles northeast of its intended target.  The Blue Dwarf had kept its part of the bargain, now all that was left to do was wait.  Wait until Kai came back from the other universe to release them to be together.

 

 

The shockwave from the explosion was felt over 30 miles away.  Where New Duha’naur had once been, there was now a smoking crater.  The valley between New Duha’naur and Old Duha’naur was also gone.  Much of the eastern portion of Old Duha’naur had also been destroyed by the resulting shockwave.  The injured and dead were scattered throughout the rubble.  People all over Brunnis were demanding answers.

Kai slammed open the door to the Council Chamber.  The argument between the Matriarchs came to an immediate halt.  He stomped forward until he was in front of Mara.  Kai was covered in dust, filthy and sweaty. He placed his palms on the table leaning over Mara who backed up, feeling the anger that radiated off of him in waves.

“25 years we have been warning you.  25 years you have brushed our warnings aside.  25 years you have concentrated on everything except the approaching threat.

You have sat here and let our allies fall.  You have ignored the reports that I and my unit have sent back. ”

“Kai, you are out of line.” Mauna, High Civic Delegate, warned.

“No! It is you who are out of line!  This Council serves the people of Brunnis and I have spent the morning dealing with the results of your service.  I have been digging the bodies of men, women and children out of the rubble that was once a part of Duha’naur.  Warriors are there now still digging, still searching for the survivors of your inaction.

The death toll already stands at 200 dead in Old Duha’naur.  New Duha’naur was vaporized.  Everyone who was within that part of the city is dead. We have no idea how many people died there and we never will. There’s a big empty hole where it once sat. 

I am a warrior.  I serve the people of Brunnis, just like this council is supposed to.”

Kai stalked to the window and flung it open.

“You would not listen to The High Warrior Delegate and the others who sit on this council who stood with her.  You would not listen to the unit leaders and officers.  You would not listen to the entire Warrior Caste.  You would not listen to the Sister Superior.”

Several armed warriors entered the chamber.  One of them handed Kai a sword and dagger.

“The High Warrior Delegate, The High Smith Delegate, The High Healer Delegate, The High Agricultural Delegate and Sister Superior have our protection.  No harm comes to them.” Kai ordered as he finished strapping on his sword.

“That roar you hear outside is the sound of an enraged mob headed to this chamber.  They want blood and they will have it one way or another.  How they have it is up to you.

Every warrior in this room will die if necessary to protect those I have named, because they have argued for action against the threat, they listened and put the protection of Brunnis first.  You now have a choice.”  He said to the remaining High Delegates.  “You can make the declaration and give them the insects or you can cause the destruction of Brunnis itself when we stand back and let them have you.  You know what will happen if a Brunnen G takes a human life.  Brunnis itself will be destroyed. ”

“We will make the declaration.” Mara said defeated.

“We need witnesses to the declaration.” Adana said.

Kai walked out of the chamber in a couple of minutes people began filing in and taking seats as Kai chose 50 of the less rabid members of the mob.  He put two warriors on the door to keep out the rest and returned.

“It is before this council to make a declaration of war against the insects.” Mara said haltingly “I call for a vote.  All in favor raise your hands.” Every hand at the table went up.

“It is official by unanimous vote.  Brunnis enters into war.” She said.

“It is the Warriors who will fight.” Moira said.  “We should hear from the High Warrior Delegate as to what their needs are.”

“My son is the ranking officer present and better able to answer that question.” Adana said.

“We have been sending weapons and warriors to several of our allies.  We must include all of our allies no matter what our agreement with them.” Kai started.

“Agreed.” The council nodded.

“I would ask that the Smith Guild send experienced weapons experts to Alteri to assist them in their efforts to produce weapons and to learn their more efficient production techniques so they may be implemented here on Brunnis.”

The council once again agreed.

“And we demand that The High Merchant Delegate step down as Head of Council.  Her conflict of interest has prevented us from fighting as we need to fight.  In her place we would have Sister Superior, she serves all castes equally.” Kai finished and glared at Mara daring her to complain.

“The Council agrees to your needs and your demand.” Selai said.

Out side a cheer went up as one of the witnesses gave the news.  “Brunnis goes to war!”

 

 

It is amazing how fast news can spread.  Within a week two contingents of Dagosian warriors had arrived on Brunnis to augment the warriors ranks and humanitarian aid was pouring into Duha’naur.

“The timing of the attack was a blessing for us.  Because of the Festival of the Time Prophet, most of the city was empty.  Those born in other areas had already left to join the celebrations in their birth lands.” Zinn said.  “But we were lucky in more ways than one.  Brak please give your report.”

“Our new second sun.” Brak  started.  “Little Blue as many of the scientists have started calling it.”

Brak pulled up an image on a viewscreen and traced a line back from the impact zone. “This is the trajectory the beam followed.  As you can see something  caused it to shift here.  This is the point it would have come into contact with the gravity field generated by the star.

We traced it back and recalculated the original course of the beam. It would have hit here.”

The impact area was not far from the original target on the surface of the globe.  Brak shifted the view to show an image of the terrain.

“Old Duha’naur would have taken a direct hit, specifically the Guild School.  The insects targeted the spot that legend tells us the Warlord made his first kills.”

“So the question is where to go from here.” Denon said.  “We are at war.  I am too old to be leading a war party.  I’m stepping down as General of the Warrior Guild, we need new blood.”

Several of the high ranking officers around the table perked up at the news.  Many of them were salivating at the idea of occupying the highest warrior position.

“But before I do I would like to take care of a bit of housekeeping.” He said.

“I am choosing to step down because I am not qualified.  I have no combat experience, as a matter of fact none of us on this Warrior Panel have any experience in combat.  I am suggesting that we all step down and make way for those who know what they are doing.  I suggest you all go quietly and with dignity, otherwise I will make it my parting request.

“Well Denon, yours is not the only resignation that I have received this day.  I have already spoken to my choice as your successor and he presented me with a radical idea, but one that has merit.” She stood and went to the door.  “Perhaps we should hear his idea before we have a mass exodus.”

Kai entered the room with several warriors at his back. He bowed to Adana.  “You humble this warrior.”

“Please gentlemen be seated.  I spoke to Kai this morning about a couple of resignations I received and he advised me to reject them and consider a different course.  Kai please explain your position.”

“General Denon, with all due respect, I don’t want your job.  The responsibilities I would be expected to shoulder would prevent me from doing my job which is fighting.  I’m not cut out for administration.  None of us are.” He said indicating the men who had followed him into the room.

“I suggest that the Warrior Panel remain intact, and instead adding to it members whose experience is in combat.  We will handle the logistics of fighting and the rest of the Warrior Panel will handle the logistics of support.”

“This is highly irregular.” Denon said.

“I am aware of that, but it will allow those of us fighting to concentrate on fighting while you can concentrate on the support and administration.”

“I think Kai’s idea is a good one.” Adana said.  “The Panel will enjoy the benefit of both knowledge and new ideas.  We will also have the benefit of accurate knowledge from the front lines.”

The door opened and Lowen hurried over to Kai and whispered in his ear.

“Excuse me.” Kai said. “But it looks like you will be getting your news from the front lines sooner than expected.  One of our personnel transports is under attack.  We just received a call for help.”

Kai and the other young men headed for the door. 

 

 

“We have to find out where they are staging from.  These attacks are happening too close to Brunnis.  They are somewhere close.  They have to be.” Kai said tiredly.

“I agree but where?  We’ve swept this entire sector and nothing but asteroids.” Lowen said.  “They just appear out of nowhere to hear the captains tell it.  The monitors are clear one minute and the next there they are.”

“Get me the reports of the most recent attacks.” Kai said “I want to look over them personally.”

Kai logged on to his computer.  It was really handy being plugged into the database.  One of the suggestions he had made was to put every last iota of information gathered on the insects throughout history in a central computer database.

He searched for the information on the failed invasion.  He had a hunch.  He contacted Brak in his father’s office.  “Brak, do you think my poor aged father could spare you for a few moments?  I need your assistance with something and you are our scientific mastermind.”

In less than an hour Kai, Lowen and Brak were studying star maps, reports and the database.

“I’ll be damned if you weren’t right Kai.  Hiding in plain sight.” Brak said.

“Shall we call up the Dagosians?  They are itching to tangle with the insects.” Lowen asked.

“What the hell, the more the merrier make it an open assignment.” Kai said with a laugh.  “Pass the word on to our allies to clean up their front yards.  Destroy every asteroid field they can find.”

“We’ll have them out of the galaxy in no time!” Brak said.

“This is only the advance force, they’re the scouts.  The main force is still out there, we haven’t seen it yet.” Kai said.  “They are testing us, gathering intel.”

“What do you mean?” Lowen asked.

“They made a mistake.  They just don’t know if they have made a mistake.  That is what they are trying to find out.” Kai said.

“I have to admit, I’m not exactly following you either Kai.” Brak said.

“Duha’naur, it was a pre-emptive strike.  They are trying to find out if it succeeded or not.”

“How do you know it was a pre-emptive strike?” Lowen asked.

“Because it’s what I would do.  If I knew where they were coming from, if I could identify the source; I would hit it with everything I had.” Kai replied.  “I would take it out and then mop up what was left.   They weren’t aiming for New Duha’naur.  Little Blue deflected their beam.”

“They were aiming for the Warrior guild school.” Brak said.

“And The Guild School is the source of the Warrior Caste.” Kai finished.