circumstances, it really wasn’t a surprise. The Baruk were mounting a formidable ground force behind that wall and Wynn wasn’t sure whether they could stop it or not.
Frustrated, Wynn tapped the communication panel that was locked in with the Esyia. “Estall, what’s your status up there?”
“We’re trying to hold our own, Wynn, but we still haven’t been able to get to that flagship,” Estall reported.
“We’ve seen a lot of troop carriers landing inside Thalidi down here.”
“I know, but we’re completely outnumbered up here,” said Estall. “We just don’t have the ability to guard the surface and try to get to that flagship!”
“I understand. I don’t mean to accuse. I know you’re doing everything you can,” Wynn said. “I’m afraid we’ve have already lost Tiet.”
There was a pause for a moment before Estall answered. “Are you sure?”
“No. I can’t be certain, but it appears the whole unit was wiped out as the Baruk made their way into the city. We’ve not heard any word from them. I don’t want to believe it, but-”
“I understand. Let’s just keep up the fight and hope we can manage to drive them back. It’s all we can do,” said Estall.
Wynn tapped the communication panel again. The scans of the city were still inconclusive. The Baruk were jamming them somehow to hide their next move.
“Sir, the units from the other cities have arrived at the staging area,” said Corbin.
“Good. We’ll need all the help we can get. It looks like this is where our future is going to be decided.”
It had been several hours since Kale and Tiet had come through the portal into Grod’s compound and they were still being confined to the medical lab under guard. Tiet had been relieved to see Grod’s aggression aimed at the Baruk, but what was his intent now? He wasn’t sure. Kale was pacing, examining the room discreetly, looking for a way of escape.
The two brothers had not spoken since their arrival and neither seemed to know what to say to the other. Kale had been the last one Tiet had expected to see coming to his rescue out there against the Baruk, but he was glad to have him.
After all that he had said, plus trying to kill him inside his confinement cell, Tiet was unsure what he could say at this point to even begin a dialogue with the man.
“How’s your equilibrium? Your head hurting?” Kale asked.
“It’s fine. Thank you for saving my life out there.”
Kale stopped his pacing to listen.
“Look, Kale, I’m sorry for what I said and did when you were in confinement. I just don’t know what to make of this. You betrayed us-our parents, our people-how am I supposed to react?”
“I know. Believe me, I wish I could undo all that I’ve done. I would gladly give my life now to undo it, but I can’t. You are my brother. I only want to have you forgive me. It’s all I have left.”
“I’m sorry. I just don’t know if I can give that to you right now.”
Kale looked at him, but there was great pain behind his eyes that Tiet partly wanted to see and partly wished he could relieve. Still, he just couldn’t find it within himself. Then Grod came into the room flanked by several warriors. They were still outfitted for battle.
“Grod, I’m glad you changed your mind about what we talked about,” Tiet said.
“We can discuss that later,” said Grod. “Right now, gentlemen, we have more pressing matters. Follow me.”
He turned and led them out of the medical lab, down several corridors to another larger room full of monitors and all manner of technical equipment. Tiet immediately noticed a huge window on the far side of the room and walked past the General to see it. He could see that it opened up beyond to a huge dome that looked increasingly familiar as he stared. It was the same room where he had been brought to fight when he was captured by Grod months ago. But now it was full of equipment and a huge gateway of some kind that seemed to lead to nowhere. Only the other side of the dome could be seen beyond.
“This room looks familiar,” Tiet said.
“Your right. It is the same battle arena where you killed my teragore,” Grod said. “A very impressive display, Barudii. Come. Look at this information.”
He joined Kale and Grod before the main tactical monitor in the room. They were surrounded by Horva warriors who were performing data retrieval and sorting.
“Here you can see what is left of your ships still in orbit as they battle the Baruk,” said Grod as he pointed to the display. “We’ve been monitoring your progress for some time now. There are very few ships left. We noted that a number of them retreated at once while the remainder attempt to attack the Baruk’s main battle cruiser.
It appears they were able to somehow get through the Baruk shields using a random frequency generator, most ingenious, by the way. But you don’t have the firepower to take out that ship, and it is essential that you do so.
“We know that the Baruk are telepathically controlled by their leader. He will be aboard the flagship.”
Kale listened carefully, but he did not volunteer what he knew about the Baruk leader. The leader of the Baruk was much more than just some telepath.
“Grod, I don’t have any more ships to throw at them,” said Tiet. “If you have ships to aid us, we would be happy to coordinate an attack, but otherwise…”
“I don’t have any ships like that here, but I do have something else,” Grod said as he looked to the window and the chamber beyond.
Kale and Tiet followed Grod to the window.
“That apparatus down there is called a transgate.”
“Is that how you appeared in Thalidi?” Kale asked.
“Precisely,” Grod said. “We developed it for a surprise attack on you, Master Soone.”
“Great,” Tiet said. “That’s certainly comforting.”
“But now we can use it to get a strike team onto the Baruk flagship,” Grod said.
“You mean that thing will transport us inside that ship, even through their shields?”
“Yes, but we have one problem,” Grod said. “The transgate draws a huge amount of power and we can’t send a large force without draining our power reserves past the safety point. We have enough power to send two or three people through the gate. If we can get inside, then perhaps we might stand some chance of destroying their leader and cutting off the ground army from his coordinating mental control.”
“Without their leader, we have a real chance against the Baruk,” Tiet said. “I’m in.”
“I’ll go with him, General,” said Kale.
“I will also go,” Grod replied. “I may not be Barudii, but I can still fight the Baruk. If you’re ready to go, then we don’t have another moment to spare.”
“We’re ready. Lead on,” Tiet said.
“I know my way around that ship,” Kale offered. “I should probably lead, once we get onboard.”
Tiet looked at Grod, who nodded his own approval.
“Then let’s go.”
The three men made their way quickly down to the domed chamber. Tiet and Kale found their weapons lying on a table inside as a Horva soldier prepped the portal for the jump. Grod wore one of the plasma weapons they had seen during the rescue in Thalidi.
“What is that thing?” asked Tiet.
“The glove channels plasma energy from this pack on my back, releasing the energy stream against whatever this targeting laser is set to,” said Grod. “They’re very effective. We’ve worked hard on these weapons.”
“Let me guess,” Tiet said. “So you could use them to attack us?”
Grod nodded then continued to explain the weapon’s workings, “The weapon is similar to throwing a bolt of lightening.”
“I’m glad you’ve decided to be on our side,” Tiet said. “It sounds like you’ve been monitoring our every move lately.”
“Well, it helps to stay informed, doesn’t it?” Grod said.
A technician signaled a lock on the Baruk flagship when they were ready. “Sir, we can’t get an exact scan on
