The Legend of Earth

eyes. “Yeah, something with some muscle. I don’t plan on being stranded out here any longer than is necessary.”

Chapter 38

The Kracori are an emotional race, unlike the more placid Klin. So when Jonnif received notification that a sustained-wormhole (S/W) was opening up with Eilsion, he screamed an ancient Kracori battle cry, pumped his fists and bared his teeth. Unfortunately, he was alone in his cabin when he displayed these emotions, so none of his crew could see the raw power he exhibited. However, the release of tension did calm his nerves for the short trek to the communication room.

Being fully aware of the timetable for the attack upon Earth, he had been expecting this link for several hours. By now the outcome should be known, and for Jonnif there wasn’t much riding on this information — nothing except the survival of his legend, and by extension, that of his entire race.

He had all the techs leave the room; he even told Kaddof and Mininof were told to wait outside. Unfortunately, when the face of Daninf Kicon appeared on the large screen, Jonnif knew immediately the outcome of the mission.

Even before Daninf could speak, Jonnif was already talking: “What happened? How could they have stopped us?”

Daninf did not answer immediately, instead irritated by the disrespectful hijacking of his conversation. “There is more to tell you than simply that the attack has failed, Jonnif. One of the ships did survive and was able to report.”

Daninf was visibly shaking, his own emotions boiling up inside, barely able to be contained. Jonnif watched him with a surprising detachment. He knew that with the failure of the mission, his life was essentially over. But not only that, now his Legend would be ravaged and all those within his line would suffer as well. The name of Vinn would have to be changed so future generations would not share in his humiliation, and nevermore would a child born on Eilsion carry the name of Jonnif. And all because of an impulsive slip of the tongue on a burned-out world, twenty thousand light years from the location of the event that caused such tragedy.

In light of his future prospects, Jonnif did not feel the need to follow neither protocol nor decorum with the Langril. The members of the Ludif Council had gone along with his plan — in fact, they had endorsed it whole- heartedly. Now they act as if they had to be coerced into voting for it, as if they had been skeptical from the start. It wasn’t fair, and now Jonnif and his entire line would be made to pay the ultimate price, and just to divert some of the blame from the Ludifs.

Daninf was able to regain his composure. “I will give you a brief summary of what is known at this time; information is still coming in. For your benefit, the Humans were warned, so Adam Cain was able to contact his fleet. However, it was not the Humans who prevented the attack.”

Jonnif was stunned, but even then only one name screamed out in his head. “The Klin! They stopped it?”

“That remains to be determined,” Daninf answered, exasperation painting his face at Jonnif’s insolent behavior. “What we do know was that the nuclear weapons aboard nine of the attack vessels exploded prematurely, apparently from an act of sabotage perpetrated by the natives of Glasien-4.”

“The Gielians, in collusion with the Klin?”

“That is one of the items we are attempting to validate.”

“So it was not my revelation that caused the mission to fail! The attack was pre- destined for failure.” Jonnif’s emotions soared, his joy ecstatic. How could they now place the blame upon his legend? No spoken word of his caused the mission’s failure!

“Then I have been exonerated, Daninf.”

“No, that is not the case — if anything, it is worse.”

Jonnif was taken aback. “I do not understand. The Humans did not prevent the attack.”

“Yes,but now they know who we are.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Respect, Jonnif! You will afford me respect!”

“How can I?” Jonnif countered, his own anger matching that of Daninf’s. “You have just said that my actions were not responsible for the demise of the mission, yet still you wish to persecute me.”

“Your actions indeed did not cause the failure of the nuclear strike on Earth, yet they have allowed the Humans to know who attempted it.”

Jonnif suddenly grew weak. He didn’t know exactly why, but Daninf’s words had some subliminal impact on him. “I do not understand,” he finally managed to mumble.

“You myiloc scum! There is so much you do not understand.” Daninf screamed. “If the attack had succeeded without warning, the Humans would have naturally assumed it came from either the Klin or the Juireans. Their fleet would have turned, never knowing that it was the Kracori who had attacked their planet, as well as the planet Juir. Even in failure, the Humans would have still suspected the others since, up until the time of your stupid revelation, they had no knowledge of the Kracori. Now they have a new enemy — and that enemy is us! And furthermore, with the failure of the mission, the Human military and industrial capacity is still fully intact. What do you think the Humans will do now with the knowledge you have revealed in your careless moment?”

Jonnif could not even find the breath to utter a defense. He slumped in the chair, cowering before the over- size image of Daninf Kicon glaring out at him from the monitor. Daninf let him suffer in his loss of legend, but only for a moment.

“If the mission had succeeded, then the Humans would have learned who was responsible because we would have broadcast it across the galaxy! But now, not only has our mission on Earth failed, but we must also abandon Juir and the Alliance Cluster. The Legend of the Kracori could not have suffered more, Jonnif. The effect this will have on your own pitiful legend is nothing compared to what you have done to your race! I find it almost inconceivable that one Kracori could have had such a deleterious impact on an entire race of beings.”

Jonnif could barely bring himself to look the Langril in the eye, but somehow he managed to speak. “What do you wish me to do, my Ludif? I had no idea it could be so … so catastrophic.”

“All we wish of you now, Jonnif, is that you prepare your forces for the withdrawal from the Cluster. We do not want to risk any more Kracori lives in such a fruitless endeavor. The loss of life may not have been much to date, yet we have all seen what the Humans are capable of doing when they are attacked — whether successfully or not. They do not react well to threats or acts of violence against them. It may not be now, but in ages to come, your actions will have cost the lives of millions upon millions of Kracori.”

“I will prepare for departure. After that, my Ludif, I am at your mercy.”

“There will be no mercy, Jonnif. A Kracori without legend is less than living. It is you who will need to face that reality. I have nothing more to say to you.”

The screen went blank, as did Jonnif’s emotions. He was drained, empty of all senses and awareness. He remained in this vegetative state for several minutes before finally rising from the chair and leaving the room.

Kaddof — his second-in-command — was in the hallway standing next to Mininof when Jonnif exited the communication center. He recognized the look of utter defeat the moment he saw his commander. “Regrets, my Ludif,” he said while not asking for a recounting of the conversation. “What are my orders?”

“You are to prepare all our forces for departure from the Cluster. All ground actions are to cease immediately. Allow no further loss of Kracori life. When ready, return to Eilsion by the shortest route. Do not allow yourself to be followed; the Humans must not learn the location of Eilsion.”

“Yes, my Ludif. I will begin preparations immediately.”

Kaddof and Mininof watched as Jonnif walked past them in a daze and disappeared down the corridor, lost