Countdown, John Walker [online e book reader txt] 📗

“My friend…” Trenik bit his lip to fight back emotion. “You do not have a choice. They are offering diplomacy as a courtesy. You and I both know they are on the verge of knocking out the defenses. We have everything to lose… no chance to push them back and yet… they are still willing to talk.”

“Their position is a strong one.”

“They’ve delivered a powerful statement,” Trenik said, “and I’ve been amongst them. Met one of their representatives who spent time on our ship. They are not the savages the military led us to believe. They have good and bad, criminals and civilians. And in the end, they want to learn from us. Not be at odds.”

“Their use of kintha?”

“Entirely accidental. The way they understood it. And they call it ether. They put no religious significance on it. To them it is merely fuel. But their minds can be changed if we want to do it.” Trenik paced. “We do not have much time though. You must convince anyone, whoever is in charge right now, that we can have peace only if we seize it.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“Turn off the orbital defenses,” Trenik said. “That will end the battle. Call it a ceasefire until we can communicate properly.”

“What about these rampaging machines?” Roldar asked. “They are causing pure havoc throughout the city! The main city! Rumor has it they’ll be at the capitol building soon. We are all in here, Trenik!”

“Then I suggest you make haste! I will do what I can to have them stop the assault.”

“You’d better work quickly as well.” Roldar grunted. “Very well. I’ll contact you back shortly. Good luck.”

“To you as well.” Trenik set the communicator down. He found the captain of the ship standing in front of him, glaring with narrow eyes. “Ah. I suspect you would all like a report.”

“You think?” Sasha tilted his head. “What’re they going to do?”

“My friend will get us the conversation we need. We will find a way to talk this through. And in the end, we will have peace. But… there are things you need to take care of. Such as the assault with the machines. Our people are suffering now even as we attempt a ceasefire. Can you make that happen?”

Sasha backed away. “I’ll see what I can do.” He gestured to them. “If you can take the next call on the bridge, that would be good. I’ll have some security bring you up momentarily.” He rushed off.

“Do you think it’ll work?” Harcourt asked. “Are they going to accept?”

Trenik nodded. “I believe they will. I made it clear. They have no choice.”

“I hope you’re right.” Harcourt leaned against the device. “I’m not sure either side has much more fight in them up here.”

“You’d be surprised,” Trenik replied. “After what I’ve seen of your kind, I think you will always find a reserve of strength to push back. That seems to be what makes you unique. Adversity spurs you on. And now, we’ve learned the hard way just how dangerous you can become.”

“Creepy revelation,” Harcourt said. “Come on, let’s get up to the bridge. I’d like to close this deal as soon as possible.”

“Me as well.” Trenik wanted his planet to be left in peace, to have a chance to recover. The human homeworlds would not be in any sort of real jeopardy. Not with the warning they received concerning the assaults. No, the ervas way of war was over. He looked forward to what they might come up with next.

Without a lust for violence constantly shoving us in the back.

***

“Word from the Broken Light,” Dorian said. “Trenik made contact with the people. They’re working to shut down the defenses. They want a ceasefire. But… before you ask, yes. The satellites are still charging up and they will fire again soon. I can’t say how long they have to charge for I’m afraid.”

“Then we don’t stop shooting,” Noah replied. He checked the numbers. The pirate vessel took out four of them. They managed two. With the fighters having chewed through two of their own, that left only two covering that section. He felt confident any of the vessels save smaller craft could survive if they blasted out. “What about the war dogs?”

“Oh boy.” Dorian ran a hand through his hair. “They are tearing it up down there, sir. The opposition can’t stand against them and they’re taking out buildings… including utilities like water and power. Parts of the city are dark. And a few of them will take some high-tech solutions to make them livable again.”

“Mac,” Noah said, “what’s that all about?”

“They are tasked with suppressing the city,” Mac replied. “They are succeeding.”

“And you endorse that?” Nina blurted out.

“Not necessarily. It is simply the most efficient method to quell opposition. Remove their ability to fight, redirect their efforts to assisting the population, and eventually bring them to their knees. Potentially, obliterate them entirely so they cannot rise again. These are basic concepts for the type of tactics bestowed on my peers.”

“That’s enough,” Noah interrupted. “We need to slow them down.” He hit the comm. “Gaston, those war dogs are going nuts down there. How’re we shutting them down? I need a plan right away.”

“We aren’t close to completion though, are we?” Gaston asked. “My sensors are telling me the enemy defenses are still up. Those satellites, the few that are left, will fire again. And our fighters are still locked in battle. Are you sure you want to stop the forward momentum now?”

“I want to know how we’re going to do it at least,” Noah replied. “Send me the protocol so we can evaluate it.”

“Alright, it’s on its way.”

Noah muted the line. “You’d think he was in command.” He shook his head. “I