Jonnif had reserved the Malor Complex for himself, along with the twenty ships in his squadron. He swung in low over the Southern Sea, and then climbed for altitude, attempting to avoid the ground-based defenses that were still a danger on the homeworld of the Juirean race. Three of his ships disintegrated even before he could see the form of the Kacoran Plain rising up in the misty distance.
His energy bombs were smaller than those of the orbital release variety, their power more concentrated. These were building-busters, not city crushers. Jonnif would take his time on the Kacoran Plain, where a number of iconic structures where located. These were the symbols of the Expansion, monuments to the power of the Juireans.
Jonnif activated his ship’s vid recorders; he wanted to document for all time the destruction of these structures, including the giant pyramid that was the seat of power for all the galaxy. Legend was what determined a Kracori’s placed in history. After this day, the name of Jonnif Vinn would be Legend for as long as the last Kracori breathed.
Chapter 11
Hydon Ra Elys was, above all else, pragmatic. So just before Adam departed the Elder’s office, he stopped the Human with a question.
“Would you agree, Mr. Cain, that at this point both of our self-interests are intertwined?”
Adam was becoming accustomed to the odd way the Juireans spoke, so all he did was stop and answer. “Yeah, pretty much. Unless you’ll give us a ship to get off the planet, it looks like we’re both stuck here no matter what happens.”
“Exactly my thoughts.” Hydon approached Adam, towering almost a full head above him. “I would agree to have you and your companions join me in the bunker below us, but on one condition.”
“What condition?”
Hydon grinned — sort of. “I admit that your race is superior to my own in regards to strength and durability, and you have proven time and again that you are very proficient fighters-”
“You’re wasting time, Lord Hydon. What do you want?”
“I will agree to arm you and your fellow Humans if you agree to serve as an additional layer of bodyguards for me and my entourage. You must promise, however, not to turn these weapons against me. Together we might be able to survive.”
Again, Adam was stunned. This was indeed a strange turn of events.
Hydon continued, “It will be unlikely that the attackers’ bombs will penetrate to the level of the bunkers, so they will have to affect a ground assault to capture or kill us. I cannot think of a more potent force of defenders than you and your fellow Humans. Would you agree?”
“Yeah, fine. But we don’t have much time. Can you get my people over here post-haste?”
“I do not understand-”
“Quickly! Can you get them here quickly?”
“I am the Council Elder. It will be done on my command.”
“Then do it! We have to get underground as soon as possible.”
Councilmember Wydor met Hydon and Adam on the main floor of the giant pyramid, as hundreds of aliens of all varieties hurried about in near-panic mode.
“I will be staying with you, Lord Hydon,” the senior Elite stated firmly.
“No you will not,” countered Hydon, just as firmly. “Upon my decree you are now Acting Elder. You must assume control of the Council and serve in my stead.”
“There are others equally qualified.”
“Granted, but none I trust as much. There is a chance I may be able to hold out against the Klin forces until the Human fleet arrives.” He looked over at Adam. “With nothing left to destroy, the Humans will serve only as a deterrent to the Klin, and drive them away. At that point — if he survives — then Mr. Cain may convince the Humans to join us in a counterstrike against the Klin and rid the galaxy of their scourge once and for all. In that event, I desperately need you to organize our remaining forces and coordinate with the Humans, if and when the time comes. Even if I do not survive, I believe we know now the face of our true enemy.”
“That is assuming the Human has been telling the truth concerning the relationship between the Klin and his race. And there is no proof that this new invading force is not made up of Humans and Klin, and not some mysterious race that has never played a role in galactic politics before.”
“I tend to believe him at this point. However, once these invaders arrive, we will have our definitive answer.”
Wydor bore a laser-like stare at Adam, the hate as lethal as any weapon. “I will go, my Lord, yet I am still not convinced that all of this is not just another ruse perpetrated by the Human barbarians.”
Adam simply returned the stare with an amused grin. There was nothing he could do in this short time to win over the Juirean to the truth as Adam knew it. Besides, even if he did, he wasn’t sure he cared enough. The Juireans — for good or bad — were about to get their asses kicked, and whether or not the Klin were ultimately responsible for the war, the Juireans were getting pretty much what they deserved.
Soon Wydor was hustled away by his own entourage of Juirean Guards and other accompanying white-haired Elites, while Adam and Hydon entered another securely-guarded elevator and began a long descent far below the pyramid. He was sure the same existed under nearly every important capital building in the galaxy — including on Earth — and the Juireans would be better-prepared than most, considering their capital had been in place for four thousand years.
Adam had witnessed the effectiveness of energy bombs before and knew them to have very little penetrating power. They were primarily designed to eliminate surface targets through a combination of heat, concussion and fire. Hydon and his entourage should survive the initial attack without a problem, hunkered down beneath the surface. But then the ground assault would begin, and the Klin, with their Kracori henchmen, would come looking for them.
“Where are my people?” Adam asked Hydon as they exited the elevator and hurried down a long, sterile, metal-lined corridor.
“They should only be a few minutes behind us. They-”
Just then they heard the first distant rumbles of the Klin attack far above them.
Adam looked more urgently at the Elder. Hydon could see the concern in Adam’s expression, so he leaned toward one of his assistants and barked out a command. A moment later the assistant responded. “They are in the elevator, my Lord. They entered just before the first strikes occurred.”
Hydon looked at Adam but said nothing; Adam gave him a curt nod of thanks.
The intensity of the explosions above them grew to a deafening level, shaking the very bedrock surrounding the series of corridors they rushed down. Adam noticed several strategic cutouts, defensive fortifications and reinforced buffers, all being manned by serious looking green-hair Juireans. He saw no other aliens this deep into the labyrinth. The defense of their Elder — as well as whatever else was hidden in these chambers — was too important to left up to second-stringers.
Adam was hoping it would be enough. He had seen a Kracori face-to-face, and even though he had yet to meet an alien the equal of a Human, he was sure the Klin didn’t pick their allies without purpose. Adam had long believed Humans couldn’t be the only heavy-gravity beings with speed and coordination. The Klin had found the Humans and employed them as their muscle; he was sure the Kracori were just as deadly.
A large metal door stood open at the end of the last corridor, as formidable as that of a bank vault, easily three feet thick. Anxious-looking Juireans were waiting, ready to push the door shut once the Elder entered. Hydon stepped inside then turned to the guards.
“Wait. There are others coming.”