The Legend of Earth

“They must have traversed the Core region. It is the only way they could have journeyed from Falor-Kapel to here in such a time.” He hesitated again before continuing. “In a few moments we will have confirmation as to whether or not this is an invasion,” Hydon said to Adam. “If it is, then I will ask that you do something for me, personally.”

Adam jerked his head back slightly in an involuntary display of shock. At a loss for words, Adam simply stammered, “Sure, what?”

“Don’t call off your fleet. If you are right, and the Klin are approaching, then please have your forces continue to sweep through the area and vanquish the coming scourge. The Juirean people and your Human race may one day make peace, but we will never make peace with the Klin. I trust you feel the same.”

“Billions of people have died — and are about to die — because of the Klin. I don’t think peace will be on our minds if we ever encounter the Klin fleet head-to-head. And as far as me calling off our attack, it looks like I’m in the same boat — situation — as you’re in. Neither one of us may live out the day.”

Chapter 10

Even Jonnif of the Kracori was surprised at how easily his forces had infiltrated the Juirean Alliance Cluster. Before even the first alarm was raised, units from Ludif-Five were already strafing the breeding facilities on Salin, killing thousands — if not millions — of young Juireans, their birth mothers and the females nursing them to maturity. This one action would set the Juireans back a hundred years, depleting their future numbers to a level where hunting down the survivors would be a more manageable task for the Kracori.

Other units were just now reaching the energy facilities and manufacturing centers on Oannan and Bal. With so many dependent on the energy modules and generators produced at these locations, chaos would soon reign throughout the Expansion, and when the Kracori revealed their own reserves of modules and generators, penitent races would come crawling to them, begging the Kracori to help them maintain their decadent lifestyles.

These early victories were significant and satisfying, yet Jonnif’s true goal lay just ahead, as he watched the blue and white planet of Juir grow ever larger in his forward viewport.

There were dozens of defenders grouping between the planet and his forces, but they would be inadequate. The Klin-designed ships were of a superior style and weaponry than the Juireans, and much of the local defenders were just a hodge-podge of hastily culled together ships of all classes and function. Even as he watched, intense bolts of energy lashed out at these ships from his forces, firing even before his own ships came within the range of the defender’s weapons batteries. The bulk of his attacking forces barely even slowed down before entering the atmosphere and zeroing in on their assigned targets.

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