“I know how the Velibar operate, just as your grandfather does. Because an earlier iteration of Stin made a drastic error.”
The drone lowered, settling to the floor twenty meters away. It was a spitting image of the ones from Jinx’s pictures the first day I’d learned someone had been inside our solar system for decades, spying on our every move. “I’m trying to follow along.”
“We created these to explore and record. The Velibar discovered them and altered the drones to their own purpose. Despite their brutish actions, they are extremely intelligent. The Stin did not place enough safeguards on these drones, and they were overtaken. I’d built in a function to allow a fold in space and time, should we encounter a race worthy of our contact.” Stin strode across the platform, walking up to the idle drone.
“Did you ever find one? Someone worthy?” I asked.
“We have. Three times.” He didn’t expand on that. “The Velibar learned what the drones were for and managed to hijack their controls. It was the greatest folly the Stin could have done. We were forced to destroy ourselves many ages ago because of this enemy. I’m afraid they continue to be a burden.”
“What happened to those Stin?”
“Our program rejected the idea of multiple threads of consciousness. Naturally, the Stin needed one voice, one control, one mind. I was born from this decision.” The projection wavered, rippling as it turned to face me.
“What are you trying to tell me?”
“The Velibar have set Stin on this path. I’ve calculated the possibilities since your arrival, and concluded that we should destroy them. Remove them from any future history.”
Now we were talking. If we were going to save Earth, I needed this guy’s support. “We’re on the same page, Stin. How do we achieve this?”
A slot in the floor emerged, and a circular device rose. It stopped at chest level. “This will give you access to the drones at their home planet. Use it to escape when the time comes. There is a detonation sequence built in, and I’ve programmed it to your biometrics.”
“When did you do that?” I asked.
“While we were speaking,” it answered.
I grabbed the disc, rotating it in my grip. “This will come in handy.”
“That’s the idea.”
“Why have you never done this yourself? Bring this planet to them, blow them up?”
“They would see me coming. They will not suspect you to attack on their soil. They are too arrogant.”
I shook my head. “They will after we defeat this outpost.”
“With Biks effectively knocked out, it will take some time for the others to realize. The Velibar are private. The Regals do not like to share information,” it said.
“Okay.” I was about to ask him more questions, but when I looked up, the projection was gone. The transport returned, landing across the platform, and I stepped on, clutching the powerful device Stin had offered me.
For the first time in weeks, I thought we might have a real shot at this.
THIRTEEN
“The Velibar outpost is a week from Stin using our FTL drives.” Varn pointed at his map. “With the fleet of Stin, we’ll make quick work of their drone factory.”
Zonrial waved a finger in the air. “We know that my brother Faril was brought to the planet’s surface. We also assume there are Hidan. Probably other races as well. It’s not so easy as dropping in and blowing anyone up.”
Aster and Luther gave each other a look. “We’ll bring the fight to the ground.” An image of Biks appeared. “We received information on the Velibar outpost from Stin. From what we understand, the Velibar have four Regencies. Biks is one of their oldest settlements, and it’s been built with the use of their victims’ resources, primarily their people.”
“They’ve been isolated for so long, the chances are they are not aware of their past,” Trid said. “The Hidan will be on their twenty-fifth generation. Even if knowledge of their culture has been passed on from generation to generation, it’s doubtful many understand their past. They will be complacent with their existence under the rule of the Velibar.”
Zonrial used a tablet to spin the image of Biks around and zoom on a small continent. It was surrounded by oceans, and I watched as she went closer. The image was fuzzy, but it was a giant settlement, with thousands of dwellings spread across the land. “The Hidan might be tough to convince, but we’re bringing them out, regardless.”
“Even if they choose to stay?” Jade asked.
“If they stay, they die,” I reminded her. “Stin’s given us some heavy artillery, and that’s what I’ll be using. Luther and I are going to place the detonations along the Hidan-occupied continent, and when we go…” I spread my fingers, indicating an explosion.
“We can’t know how many there are,” Trid said. “But we are getting more backup along the way. Someone with enough space to carry the population we save from Biks.”
I whistled. “We’re bringing a lot of cavalry, aren’t we?”
“Why the hell don’t the Squids just use hyperspace and attack Earth? Why the long game of gateways and drones?” Varn made a point. We’d been so preoccupied with finding their outpost that we hadn’t questioned the obvious.
R11’s eyes glowed as he interjected, “I have read the files Stin shared on the Velibar.”
“Then you know why they don’t use faster-than-light modifications?” I asked.
“The Velibar religion forbids it. They abide by the old customs, a culture from an era we’d consider barbaric by modern human standards.” R11 looked at the planet.
“But they have space travel,” Varn muttered.
“True. However, they believe their souls will be lost if they travel beyond the starlight. It’s in their First Ruler’s testament. The crux of their Word.”
“And the gateways? That’s acceptable?” Jade held her cup of coffee with both hands.
“They stole the drones from the Stin. Anything plundered is fair game, by their books,” R11 said. “The gates are different enough from using engines
