God's Dogs Book 2
40

Destroying an Empire to win a war is no victory. And ending a battle to save an Empire is no defeat.

Klingon proverb

The Satya and the freighter, a barbell about half the size of the Blue Dragon and named the Lotus Flower, used the gate system for two jumps. Then they engaged their FTL drives to complete the journey to the Peoples’ home world.

Upon arriving at the edge of the planetary system, they sighted a Cass destroyer in high orbit around the gas giant.

“Well, Quinn,” Captain John began, “I’m not surprised. We should have seen this possibility.”

Quinn, sitting at the secondary tactical station on the bridge, answered, “We knew the clans met for a war council. This is probably part of their strategic response.”

“If we show ourselves, what then?”

“Worse case, they bombard the planet to get rid of evidence. Best case, they tell us they are protecting the planet from further incursions.”

“Comm, get Anaya on the line.”

“Aye, captain.”

After a few moments, Anaya’s face appeared on screen.

“Yes, captain.”

“We have a problem.”

“I know. The children tell me there’s one of their litter-mates on a nearby ship. I presume it’s that warship in orbit.”

The captain nodded and said, “I would have you stay here, and we’ll move in.”

“The children want to help, and I’m not sure they will take No for an answer.”

Quinn asked, “What kind of help?”

Anaya’s face crumpled a bit. “It’s just angry talk. They want to tear the ship apart.”

“How about pushing it into the upper atmosphere,” Quinn suggested, “and then tear a hole to let their litter-mate escape?”

Anaya frowned. “I don’t want them killing people, Quinn. They’ve got enough to overcome without adding that.”

“It would be one option in our overall strategy,” Quinn said. “The last option, but they would need to obey my orders.”

“I’ll talk it over with them,” Anaya said and cut the transmission.

Captain John turned to Quinn and asked, “Running a bluff?”

“If they want to keep their ship in one piece, they better take the offer I give them.”

Anaya called back and told them the children would follow Quinn’s orders, and both ships headed in system. They didn’t hide their advance. Indeed, they sent out a military pulse to actively scan the system.

When they came within easy comm distance, Quinn opened a channel to the Cass destroyer.

“Cass destroyer, this is the Penglai-flagged cutter, Satya. Please respond.”

“Nothing,” the comm officer said after a while.

The sensor officer, though, announced, “They are powering up weapons and shields. We’re still out of range, but at our closing speed, we’ll be in range in twenty minutes.”

The bridge layout was a tactical station, comms, sensors, gunnery, and damage control. It was shaped in a half-circle with the captain at the radius point of the circle. Tactical sat two people; it was Quinn’s battle station. Gunnery sat two people; one for shields and point defense, one for missiles, rail and beam weapons. Damage control sat two people; one was an engineer in contact with the engineering space, the other was a damage control specialist.

Moss and the XO were in the auxiliary bridge, which was two decks down and aft of the primary bridge. River and Pax were in the armory, ready to suit up in heavy armor for either damage control or to repel boarders.

“Cass destroyer,” Quinn tried again, “we are here to return some of the kidnapped children to their home world. You know what one of them is capable of. Imagine six of them tearing your ship apart.”

After a few minutes, the Cass commander responded, voice only, “Our orders from the clan council are to interdict this planet.”

“I’m pretty sure they don’t want any more of these beings kidnapped. We’re here to return some of the ones that were kidnapped.”

“Our orders do not allow for that distinction.”

Quinn pondered that answer and tried to read into it what the commander might be saying. He went with his gut and asked, “What would it take to convince you otherwise, captain? I’d hate for our passengers to do damage to your ship. They are angry children and somewhat unpredictable.”

“I cannot submit without a fight.”

“Cut the link,” Quinn told the comm officer, “and hold the link to Anaya.”

Anaya appeared on screen. “We heard, Quinn. What’s your plan?”

“Well, it sounds like he just needs to save face. Have the children push him into the upper atmosphere, but definitely above their crush depth.”

“Okay,” Anaya agreed without enthusiasm.

Ten minutes later, the destroyer moved sideways into the upper atmosphere of the gas giant.

“Open a link,” Quinn said.

“Go ahead, Quinn,” the comm officer replied.

“Captain, I’m bargaining with the children here. They noticed that you have one of their litter-mates aboard. Let him go, promise you’ll leave this system, and they won’t push you to crush depth.”

“You win,” the captain said. “The clan council will be informed of this.”

“I’m sure they will. I’m just glad we didn’t have to kill you and your crew.”

It took an hour, but the captive was released, and the children aboard the Lotus Blossom confirmed it. They pulled the destroyer out of the gas giant’s clouds and flung it a few million miles toward the hyper limit. The destroyer powered up and left the system.

Quinn asked Anaya, “Are you ready to proceed?”

“Yes. We’ll release the children in the clouds above our own crush depth. They will request a meeting with an elder.”

“And we’ll be above you the whole time,” Quinn concluded. “Good luck.”

The release went well, and Anaya hurried to the bridge from the now empty cargo bay. The Lotus Blossom had been retrofitted with lights so that it could communicate with the People, and the ship A.I. was loaded with the translation program.

At first, there was little activity as the freed children flew off in all directions. Anaya smiled at the graceful way they moved through the currents.

The ship moved with those currents because it would be energy intensive to hold to one location, as the winds were in the hundreds of miles an hour range.

They had also tagged the litter-mates with locator beacons so they could follow their movements. Not surprising, they all dove for deeper layers. That’s where the adults were.

After a few hours, two of the youngsters came back.

“Looks like Sparky and Twinkle,” Anaya said as she monitored the sensors.

“That’s affirmative,” the ship A.I. replied. “They are escorting a much larger specimen.”

The captain looked over from his chair. “What have you gotten us into this time, Anaya?”

He was an older man, not as old as Anaya, but definitely someone who had been working in space for decades.

“Another adventure, Ivan,” she replied.

“I’ve had enough adventures,” he grumped.

“Well, you’re on another one, you old goat, so find a way to enjoy the moment.”

“Sure. I’ll do that, until it all turns to shit and the screaming starts.”

“Look at the size of that guy,” the sensor officer breathed. “He’s almost as big as our ship.”

“Ship, send a greeting,” Anaya instructed.

The dialogue with the adults began, and it lasted for some hours. Other adults joined in, and they came in a variety of sizes. Apparently, they were already telepathic. They told Anaya that telepathy developed slowly, and the captured children hadn’t reached that developmental stage. It was one reason the Cass were successful in capturing them. They couldn’t call for help.

The conversation went back and forth, each explaining its civilization, values, hopes, dreams, and philosophy. The People were a curious, tolerant, and humorous race. Anaya thought of the gentle giant humans she’d known. They had no fear, since they were the biggest kids on the block.

On the other hand, the People were inward looking. Their spiritual goal was to reach the planet’s core. It was their equivalent of heaven or nirvana – both a metaphor and a state of mind, let alone an actual place. They harbored no ambition to travel the stars.

The youngsters did, as Anaya knew, and the next day she threw out some proposals to the adults.

“We plan to monitor this planet, and probably build a space station. Researchers would be interested in the make-up of your world. We have difficulty getting instruments to work in the pressures of gas giants, and we would like to know what’s going on in these types of planets. Would you be open to a partnership of some kind?”

The adult pod of devil rays circled around the freighter as they considered the question.

Anaya suspected the telepathic net was global, and many others were reflecting on the question. So far, she hadn’t connected to the adults telepathically. She wasn’t sure how that would be construed.

Lights began flashing, and the ship A.I. translated, “In a barter, each side gains from the exchange. What do we gain by helping your scientists?”

“Education for your young,” Anaya answered. “When you deem them ready, we can take them to the stars for a period of time. They will learn about the galaxy they live in, its people, its philosophies, its struggles, its wonders, and its knowledge. When they conclude their time with us, they will enhance and energize your culture.”

After a bit, the reply came, “You offer us a unique form of education for our children in return for cooperating with your scientists.”

“Yes,” Anaya simply said.

“We will need to ponder this, more fully question those you have returned to us, and weigh the costs and benefits.”

Ivan muttered, “He picked up the trade lingo quick enough.”

Anaya smiled at him. “They are an ancient race that lives in a fluid and dynamic environment. I would expect them to be highly adaptable.”

Ivan grunted in reply.

Anaya spoke to the A.I., “We will be returning the others that were kidnapped, once we rescue them. The ships will be rigged to translate your language. Let us know when you reach a decision.”

“That is acceptable. We are in agreement that you may build a space station here.”

“Of course, they agree to that,” Ivan muttered. “It gives them free protection.”

Anaya chuckled as she told the A.I., “Thank you. I’ll relay that decision to those who will make it happen. Farewell, for now.”

Once the two ships set sail for the hyper limit, Anaya sent a report to the ambassador via FTL link. The decision came back that the Lotus Blossom would return to Jomeca IV. The Satya would remain on station to be relieved when another of the Coyote cutters showed up to return a youngster.

Tau-14 committed to supplying a research station, but it would be some months before it would arrive. Until then, a Congress research vessel was assigned, but it would take a few weeks for it to be retrofitted with the translation hardware and software.

The Lotus Blossom boosted for FTL, and the Satya began patrol. After a week, Jolene showed up. She dropped into the upper atmosphere of the gas giant to release the youngster she brought home, chatted with the People, and met up with the Satya.

The ships hard-docked to one another, and Jolene’s team came aboard.

“Well, that was fun,” she beamed. “Some of those beings are huge.”

They camped out in the galley and Jolene went on, “Are you up on the gossip?”

“Not really,” Quinn replied.

“The Cass are upset with you,” Jolene went on. “They say they have claimed this system, and you’re claim jumpers.”

Moss snickered. “You can’t claim a system with a sentient species in it.”

“They dispute they are sentient – more like dogs. They have intelligence but not self-awareness.”

“Anaya will put that falsehood to rest,” Pax said. “She’s got hours of conversation.”

“I’m sure,” Jolene said. “I think it’s just to buy time so they can figure out what to do next. Their buddies in the Congress are fighting a scandal, so the Cass’ position in the politics of this sector is deteriorating. Their piracy in other sectors is creating a push to end their autonomy.”

“They’re scrambling for survival,” River commented.

“Yep,” Jolene agreed and grinned. “Of course, they are blaming us for this sad state of affairs.”

“Claim jumping and whatnot?” Quinn prompted.

“That and our attack on their home world. I think their indictment lists fourteen offenses.”

Moss smirked again. “Do you think the ambassador will let me plead our case in court?”

“Not a chance,” Jolene smiled back. “Anyway, you’re relieved here, and you’re instructed to return to Jomeca IV.”

The business completed, they socialized after that. Jolene’s team talked of their interactions with the Sangalore spacers, the trouble they experienced calming down the youngster they rescued, and their continuing awe at the size and presence of the adult People.

The next day, the Satya made for the hyper limit. After a week, they entered the Jomeca system, flashed their credentials to the fortress at the gate they exited, and headed in system.

Anaya met them at the loading docks when they arrived at the space station. Two marines accompanied her.

“Quinn,” she greeted with a nod to the others. “Looks like we go to war with the Cass.”

“How did that happen?” Moss exclaimed.

“Some obscure rule in the Congress charter. It’s almost like a trial by combat. Whoever wins the war wins the case.”

“What case?” Pax asked.

“Theirs against us for a raft of ‘crimes,’ and ours against them for a different raft of crimes.”

River wondered, “Can’t Tau-14 adjudicate this?”

“The provision they invoked was written before ASIs took on that role,” Anaya explained. “Apparently, it never got scrubbed and has been used for conflict resolution before. It’s an archaic rule but some of the warrior cultures in the Congress like that it is there as an option.”

Quinn said, “Yeah, I can see that. Honor violations are in a different category than simply applying the law to a set of facts.”

“Well,” Anaya grumped. “I’m glad you see the logic in it. I don’t. It is an unnecessary conflict. People will get killed.”

“Most likely,” Pax said. “But none of us gets out of this alive, anyway.”

“Coyotes,” Anaya muttered in disgust and turned to go.

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