MotherShip (35 page)

“Is there something else bothering you? You don't seem like the same old Kyle lately. I thought it might be that spicy Kraaqi food.” Jaric winked. But when Kyle did not smile back, Jaric became serious. “You sure nothing else is bothering you?”

“Naw, I'm alright,” Kyle said halfheartedly.

“You know, I've been thinking. Minstrel is leading the Mewiis with the hybrid weapon upgrades on their battle cruisers, which have now begun in earnest. Why don't you and I convince Rawlon to send the Band of Thunder's ships to the Hrono, and we'll go with them. We can help ease the friction and give their pilots some insights into fighting the T'kaan,” Jaric suggested. “Just you and me.”

“What about Becky?” Kyle asked.

“She and Mother should go back to the Kraaqi worlds and make sure the main part of ‘em stay in line. I think they need Mother's firm hand.” Jaric laughed.

“Yeah, after Mother informed us of the Hrono attempt to take her apart in her communiqué, it's probably better for you two to go back to Hronosium instead,” Becky added.

Kyle chuckled momentarily as he thought about Mother's bold escape from the Hrono, and with the thought of being with his life-long friend again—just the two of them.

“Yeah, that might work. We'll get Rok to lead his Band, too. The two Bands will be an example, to help the others cooperate with the Hrono.” Kyle's face lit up with interest.

Becky put her arms around both young men and squeezed them in a friendly embrace.

“The next time we see each other, the T'kaan Third fleet is going down!” She said with confidence.

“That's all we have to do now,” Kyle mused, a bemused look on his face. “Defeat the terrible T'kaan Third Fleet.”

“Is that
all
we have to do?” Jaric added, half-joking.

But none of them laughed.

Two months passed, and the leaders of the Three Kingdoms called a special Assembly.

The T'kaan assaults had steadily increased against the Mewiis worlds the last weeks, but the much anticipated full attack had still not materialized. Neither had the main part of the T'kaan Third Fleet appeared in force, only strong squadrons that attacked and destroyed their Mewiis targets and then disappeared to prepare their next move.

Four Mewiis planets had fallen victim to the dread horned squadrons. But because of the heroic efforts of the Mewiis navy as well as Mother at the planet, Myraira, the majority of that one world's population had been successfully evacuated prior to its destruction. Still, the price had been high, and the Mewiis were now demanding more help from the Hrono and Kraaqi.

During these eight weeks every shipyard across the Three Kingdoms had been busy every hour of every day integrating the hybrid weapon into as many ships as possible. Now, on the first day of the Assembly, the work on the last of the cruisers of the Kraaqi fleet had been completed. Across all three fleets, every battleship and every class of cruiser now had the hybrid weapon successfully installed and tested.

But as the Assembly began, the Admirals and Captains of the Hrono and Kraaqi clamored for the hybrid weapon to be installed in the frigates as well while the Mewiis Admirals argued back that it was time to take the war to the T'kaan. Emotions were high, and the newly formed alliance was being sorely tried.

It was finally decided by the end of that first day to bring the ships of every fleet together and prepare to strike back at the T'kaan. As orders were quickly relayed to the fleets to begin gathering at the predetermined coordinates, scout ships were also ordered out in large numbers in order to seek out and find the T'kaan Third fleet. The success of all their preparations hinged on striking the T'kaan and destroying their entire fleet in one mighty blow.

But they had to find the elusive T'kaan Third fleet.

The fourth day of the Assembly arrived, and there was still no word from the scout ships.

As the leaders of the Three Kingdoms anxiously awaited word from their deployed scout ships, a new argument arose—an argument that centered upon Kyle, Becky and Jaric.

“We are the last three humans left alive in the universe.”

The Hrono and Kraaqi froze at Kyle's words. In fact, every eye in the audience now focused on the lone human as he stood before them.

Kyle stared wild-eyed at the gathered leaders and warriors; Hrono allied at last with Kraaqi, and even the diminutive Mewiis armed for war. They were all prepared for victory.

But the unthinkable had also been whispered in small groups—defeat, and to be brought to extinction like the human race. The audience remained silent as this alternative sunk in once again with Kyle's words.

“Even more reason for you not to fight in this battle,” Rawlon growled, stroking his chin.

“We will fight,” Kyle growled back. “We will not be left out after helping you this far.”

Jaric's ebony skin flashed under the harsh lights of Assembly as he stepped onto the stage beside Kyle, and together they faced the gathered Three Kingdoms.

“We cannot be denied.” Jaric began. “It is our destiny!”

“There may yet be a way,” Jasus said. “Through genetic engineering... maybe...”

His unfinished words spoke louder than the ones he had uttered.

“Today is a day of action.” Becky strode to the center of the stage beside Kyle and Jaric. “We must fight through that...before we can think of tomorrow, or the hope of one.”

A pervasive silence echoed throughout the great hall, and the thousands shook their heads in wonder.

“You owe us as well,” Mother's voice echoed. Though the mighty ship rested on the plain outside the spiral building of Mewasta, her voice emanated through her robot envoy, Guardian. His massive seven-foot form walked forward and stood stolidly with the humans, as he had since their childhood.

“We have helped you with our technology and with what we have learned through such hardship from the T'kaan, improving your ships as well as helping you integrate the hybrid weapon. The combined fleets of the Hrono, Kraaqi and Mewiis gathered around this system now have stronger shields and engines. Your capital ships are now primed with the hybrid weapon to smash the feared horned fleet.” Mother's voice paused. “You must let us be there with you.”

It was true
, Mother reflected silently.
Every ship from a light cruiser and larger had installed Mother's fabled weapon, complementing their main armaments. But there had been one failure with its integration in the warships of the Three Kingdoms; whereas Mother could recharge the T'kaan/Human hybrid weapon and use it over and over again ,in their warships no amount of configuration would allow the weapon to fire more than five times before the circuitry overloaded and it became unusable.

“Let the female human stay—it is with her that the future of the human race may lie,” Jasus said. “At least let her stay. From her womb may spring the human race again.”

Becky's eyes burned into the twin pupils of the Hrono. She and everyone gathered knew how tenuous that hope, that dream, that fleeting wish—really was.

“I
will
fight,” she said firmly.

“If anyone should stay for the sake of the lost race known has humans...it should be Mother.” Minstrel's disembodied voice caused every head to turn upward. Floating just below the huge ceiling above the throngs, Minstrel had watched mainly in silence.

Below, the Mewiis smiled at their well-known friend, but the Kraaqi and Hrono still stared with fresh wonder at this newly acquainted alien entity. As the crowds digested her words, Minstrel twinkled with emotion.

“Inside her long-term memories are stored the entire collected knowledge—science, art, music...” Minstrel paused, its plasma body aglow with different colors. “The entire memory of what the human race once was is carried inside MotherShip,” Minstrel said. “It is she who should not fight. So the universe might remember.”

“Hear. Hear. Yes!” Shouted the gathered throngs.

The main room filled with the leaders and high warriors of the Three Kingdoms began chanting their approval of Minstrel's words. In the past few months, as the MotherShip and her children had brought them first warning of the coming fleet and then had taken the lead in forging this unimaginable alliance among once sworn enemies, all had come to know and respect them and Minstrel. They had also shared their mourning and their burning desire to destroy those that were now destroying the worlds of the Mewiss.

“I must be there.” Mother's voice doubled in volume and caused every head to turn toward Guardian.

“Did Mother just shout?” Becky asked with disbelief.

Jaric and Kyle stared at the speaker on Guardian's chest through which Mother's words had just emanated. Mother continued speaking, her voice now at a normal volume and intensity.

“It was my fighting prowess that bought the last remnants of humanity those precious few weeks to prepare their last stand. Alone, I fought those rear-guard actions time and again to slow down the T'kaan advance against Earth.”

The silence returned and filled the hall—a deep hush embraced them as they listened—as if something holy were about to be uttered.

“Against impossible odds, my weapons cut through the advancing squadrons of horned ships and then I withdrew. I made my way in secret to the prearranged rendezvous point and picked up the children,” Mother said. “My creators, Ron and Rita, had finally seen the futility, had guessed the final outcome, many months before the last stand. They had made preparations to escape and save what they could of their race and the few they could take with them. But war takes unexpected turns.”

Mother's processors burned with activity as memories hard and clear came back and were relived. She felt a surge from her primary power source and wondered why she had suddenly armed her weapons, when there was no enemy in sight on this world.

“My creators died on that last planet—died with the last defenders of humanity. Yet, they did something no race before them had done—they took the T'kaan Third down with them, including the Great and mysterious horned ship that each fleet is built around.”

The silence grew heavy and electric.

“But more T'kaan came. And more ships were built.” Mother paused for effect. “With only the three children, I fought my way through the rebuilding fleet. The First and Second were sending replacements as the maggot offspring fed on the battlefield dead. A new Great Horned ship was born. All this time, I fought them, while at the same time teaching the children how to defeat the horned enemy. I protected them. I taught them. I...” Mother's voice processor suddenly cut off.

Mother focused on the implications of the next words she had almost uttered—I loved them.
Could she really express that she felt that emotion for the children?
She wondered.
Could a machine love? A ship designed to destroy, designed for war. Did she really feel love?

The questions of life haunted Mother once again deep inside her electronic mind.

She so wanted to know love—to love, and to be loved. And most of all, she wanted to tell those gathered here that she did indeed love her children, and that she knew what love meant.

One millisecond had almost elapsed when she resumed.

“You will need my prowess when you fight this greatest of enemies. For if the Third is not stopped, there will be no more Kraaqi—no more Mewiis, and no more Hrono,” Mother said instead.

Even as these last words fell upon the alien ears, movement began around Rawlon and his entourage. A courier entered the room from an entrance behind him and began whispering excitedly in his ear.

In moments, Rawlon was standing, raising his hand to silence the growing murmuring that filled the great chamber as they watched with rising excitement.

“The T'kaan fleet has been found! Listen to this live message my people are receiving from the Kraaqi scout ship, Hyydea.”

Becky almost jumped as static suddenly rattled from the overhead speakers. Every heart in the hall pounded with the sudden rush of adrenaline as the static grew louder.

“...of the Hyydea. We have made contact with the T'kaan main fleet and are being attacked. I repeat, the horned ships do show the markings of the Third Fleet.” There was a pause of silence that seemed to stretch for a small eternity.

“Oh, Great Osni! There are so many... Wait...wait. Target that frigate! Helm, hard over!”

Multiple explosions rumbled through the speakers until the hall itself seemed to be under direct attack. More words, garbled and almost unintelligible, came between the explosions. Amid this terrible cacophony came their last words.

“...there...other warn ...listen... you must... “

A huge explosion suddenly rattled every speaker in the great chamber as the assembled masses rose as one. Becky raised her hands to her ears as she felt Kyle and Jaric move to her side.

A harsh, dead silence filled their hearing, and everyone knew the scout ship had been destroyed.

Rawlon's swarthy frame rose between a diminutive male Mewiis and the larger female Mewiis, Admiral Saris. Two chairs down, the scaly form of Tarlog rose as his eyes locked with his once sworn enemy.

Rawlon raised his clenched fist and shook it at the sky as his black feather-hair jumped across his shoulders like the mane of a mighty lion. Every muscle in his powerful frame rippled with tension as he readied himself for what must be. He opened his mouth and roared, waving his head and his warrior's horns in battle challenge to the unseen enemy above—to the T'kaan.

Every Kraaqi warrior fixed their eyes on Rawlon and roared with him, joining their voices together until the walls shook again with the power of their battle cry.

The Hrono warriors, and even the Mewiis, quickly joined with their own screaming cries as the emotional electricity filled the air between them like something alive.

The Admiral of the combined Force dropped his clenched fist as the battle cry faded from his lips. The crowded hall slowly became silent as ten thousand faces watched him with rising expectation. As the silence became complete, Rawlon looked out into the crowd.