T. Harris - The Legend of Earth

Kaddof, on the other hand, was from the Hilfoif Tribe, and as such had not shared the same path to his present rank as had Jonnif. Jonnif had met Kaddof seventeen years before and had immediately spotted an exceptional fire burning within the younger Kracori officer. It was also no secret that Jonnif enjoyed Kaddof’s almost Ludif-like worship of his commander. He had contacts and influence and he had traveled extensively off-planet. Kaddof had been more than happy to serve as Jonnif’s understudy.

But now the broken and mutilated body of Jonnif Vinn lay in a freezer aboard the headquarters ship, awaiting return to Eilsion where it would be undoubtedly cast into an unmarked grave without fanfare or regard for legend. The line of Jonnif Vinn would end with him and it would end with shame.

Kaddof had to admit that Jonnif’s actions would bring about the destruction of the Kracori Legend, yet he was also sure that Jonnif had not meant that to be the case. But now he would be cast as the destroyer of the Kracori, and all because of a simple mistake. It just wasn’t fair.

And now, in spite of it all, Juireans still lived on the planet Juir….

As the anger grew within him, Kaddof reeled back and heaved the large rock into the air, out far beyond the edge of the cliff, further than any Juirean could have thrown. He watched as the stone arched out over empty space and then began the long fall toward the surface below. It landed with a series of echoing pings far down the cliff face, ricocheting and chipping other rocks in the process. Soon a mini-avalanche had formed, but one that quickly subsided.

However, as he watched the journey of the stone, Kaddof suddenly had an idea. His chest welled up, and as his head turned toward the sky, he let out a loud, primal Kracori battle cry, the angry sound echoing off into the distance.

He turned and hurried back to the spaceship. Kaddof had a plan, but he only had so much time to bring it to fruition.

They entered the Primus-Lur system two days later and immediately picked up a score of gravity signatures heading in the opposite direction.

“Any of these contacts Class-5’s?” Riyad asked.

“I have not detected any yet,” Jym said from his station. “And I have a question for you, Riyad. Since no Class-5 can make landfall, this action will have to take place in space. How do you plan on accomplishing this?”

Tobias and Sherri were on the bridge with the aliens; they looked to Riyad and raised their eyebrows.

For an answer, Riyad tapped the top of Jym’s console. “We use this. We’re in a ship belonging to the race of beings who have just conquered the almighty planet Juir. We just make contact and demand they stop. If they don’t, then we will blast them from space.”

“But that would defeat your purpose. You want the ship intact and undamaged.”

“We would not actually fire upon the ship, my little friend. They just have to believe that we would.”

“But a Class-5 is very fast. They may choose to run.”

“Let’s just hope they don’t.”

“Suppose you did not come off so threatening?” Jym offered. “Then the pilot may not run and risk being fired upon.”

“Great idea, Jym. I will certainly consider that — once we find a candidate.”

Jym always seemed to perk up when complimented by the Humans. He turned to his console and renewed his scanning, but now with almost a whistle in his movements.

He suddenly leaned forward. “I believe I have found such a vessel, possibly two, moving in tandem.”

The word went out throughout the ship and the crew began their preparations. The task of taking the other ship was made more difficult from the fact that they did not want to damage it. It would have to be boarded and the crew subdued.

The KFV-A did carry a small shuttle — a very small shuttle — which could only carry four passengers, plus the pilot. It wasn’t fast and didn’t have any docking hatch. If they used the shuttle to access the freighter, they would either have to do it through the ship’s main landing bay or evacuate the atmosphere in the shuttle and spacewalk to the surface of the other ship. They were prepared for either eventuality, with the four SEALs already in the shuttle dressed in spacesuits they had found in the KFV’s cargo hold. Luckily for them, the Kracori were of similar size and bulk as the Humans so the suits fit quite well.

Riyad would stay on the bridge and attempt to talk his way into stopping the ship and to gain access. Sherri was on the bridge as well, yet she was armed with an emergency kit containing all the generic medical supplies she could find in the Kracori ship, just in case.

There were ample weapons within the KFV, all of the energy-bolt variety, which should suffice against aliens. The SEAL’s were ready — in fact anxious — for some action. Adam’s ribs still hurt terribly, but he toughed it out. Hopefully the gravity aboard the freighter would be light. That would certainly help.

As the two large contacts came within extreme visual range, the furthest one out from the KFV veered off and bolted away. The other one hesitated and Kaylor was able to move within weapon’s range. The Class-5 was fast, but it was still within a planetary system and therefore could not engage its deep wells. This allowed the KFV to move even closer.

Riyad fingered the comm button. “This is Kracori vessel double-oh-seven calling the Class-5 freighter on my screens. Please respond.”

Jym looked at Riyad with a quizzical look, and then he whispered, “I do not see such a designation for this ship?

“It’s a top secret designation, my friend,” Riyad answered. He looked over to see Sherri grinning from ear to ear.

After few moments of silence, the comm speaker crackled just before a voice could be heard. “This is the Leerin Vessel 7786 . What is your message, Kra … Kracori vessel zero-zero-seven ?”

“Greetings,” Riyad said joyfully, following Jym’s advice about being more congenial. “As you are obviously aware, the Kracori race now controls the region, so I am here inquiring about your cargo and destination?”

There was another long pause before those aboard the freighter responded. “We currently carry no cargo, and we were in the process of evacuating the area so as to avoid any conflict.”

“That is understandable,” Riyad said reassuringly. “With your permission, we would like to send a shuttle over to discuss the terms of possibly hiring your vessel for the shipment of some supplies to our forces off Juir. Would you consider receiving a hefty sum in return for your services?”

“In what form of currency would this fee be made?”

Riyad was taken aback. This alien had cut right to the chase, and he was aware that with the fall of Juir, all Juirean credits were useless. He also figured that any currency the Kracori might use would be equally worthless at this time. Riyad smiled and responded. “We are prepared to pay in gold certificates, a precious metal currently traded in many systems throughout the Expansion.”

“We are aware of gold. That will suffice. Send over your shuttle.”

Jym cut the line and Riyad turned to Sherri with a wide grin. “That was easier than I thought.”

Fifteen minutes later the tiny shuttle skidded to a stop in the cavernous cargo bay of the freighter. Adam was at the pilot controls and he gasped, having never seen a room as large as this one aboard a starship.

Once the atmosphere was replaced in the huge chamber, Lt. Tobias cracked the hatch and they all stepped out into the room. The gravity here was very light, either because that’s the way the crew liked it, or because it made maneuvering cargo easier. Either way it made the bulky spacesuits the SEALs wore easier to operate.