Harvester 7

  "What?" cried Maulik who felt like nothing more than a passenger.

  "Six," she growled, "With three more on the way, only a small pack... such a pity. Now watch what I can really do." she laughed as Maulik felt her building power.

  For less than a minute Maulik clung to his seat in awe at Kressa's combat prowess, hitting the two lead fighters with a stunning blast of energy she tore past and turned 180° before the Su'al pilots knew what was happening to them, Maulik could only sense from her elation that two more had been vaporised as she dropped onto their tail, his vision blurred by the G forces he fought to keep his meal down, the remaining two fighters streaked apart obviously hoping that she would chase the other allowing a small window for escape, but she was too fast, she pounced on the first with a ferocious turn of speed and with a gentle and carefully aimed pulse she disabled the craft leaving it's reactor venting plasma into space before instantly turning to destroy his partner who was tearing away at three times the speed of light.

  With fascination Maulik witnessed her toy with the disabled fighter, it's weapons fully functional but it's engines dead she played offering him a clear shot before leaping away from the energy pulses, Maulik recalled a documentary he had watched many years before when he had been little more than a hatchling, he pictured now how the savage feline from a distant planet had teased and tormented a small rodent type creature, attack and retreat, the cat permitted a small escape before catching the terrified creature again to repeat the process.

  "Yessss." she growled as she finished her sport in a ball of flames before turning to face the three late arrivals.

  "This is what I was born for," she purred as she casually destroyed the lead craft before hovering static inviting attack, "Come and get me boys," she purred before dodging a missile and sending the second craft to oblivion, "Only one left." she complained and Maulik sensed her disappointment.

  "These creatures are no challenge," she sulked before screaming down on the fighter that was urgently attempting to escape her fury, "Goodbye." she whispered and a split second later flames erupted and debris flew.

  "Not much of a challenge," she purred, "But fun." she added with a little giggle.

  Maulik sat in awed silence, his heart racing. "Kressa, you are truly amazing," he finally managed to collect his scattered thoughts and address her, "Incredible."

  "I told you I was savage," she chuckled, "I also warned you that you would have no control, I am sorry I disregarded your command."

  "The Watu were worried it was a design fault in the early days of our development," she chuckled, "That is until they saw what we could do when our instincts were awoken. But I am calm now Maulik, shall we return?"

  "Yes... yes, please, but slowly, I am not sure if my meal can stay down much longer." he added, only half joking.

  "My long range scans show nothing," Kressa confirmed as she slipped back into Hold 32 and powered down her reactors, "There is no more threat."

  "They must have picked us up when we left the planet." commented Maulik,

  "No, I don't think so," she replied, "I would have detected them, more likely that they picked up 7's ion trail and followed it like hounds, but we are clear now."

  "Don't thank me," she warned as his thoughts were revealed, "I was doing what I was designed to do, I should be thanking you for trusting me and letting me have fun. Now I am contented." she purred deeply.

  ***

  The disastrous attempted raid by the Su'al haunted Maulik's dreams but it wasn't the efficiency of Kressa's attack, it was the obvious delight she took in destroying her enemy, he woke with a thin sheen of sweat glistening on his smooth skin.

  "The Watu are a very dangerous ally" he suddenly realised, "With a fleet of ships like Kressa who could stand against them?... and Kressa already said there are hundreds of others just like her on Watuma," he knew full well that Go'an was probably eavesdropping on his thoughts but it was unavoidable, "I can't prevent moments of realisation." he thought in an attempt at justification, but his world remained silent, maybe Go'an wasn't listening, or maybe it was just too difficult a realisation for him to confront? Maulik attempted to clear his mind, how would Go'an take such a sudden understanding?

  Without any clear idea in his mind and with sleep proving evasive Maulik strolled to the grav-lift, he could spend a little time with Kressa, she didn't sleep.

  As he touched the shining blue panel he was hit by a wave of static.

  "You must not think about such things." she told him with an urgency he found disturbing.

  "You know what I was thinking about?"

  "Of course," she replied "We have a bond, but it is dangerous to understand too much."

  "Can he hear us now?"

  Kressa purred, "Not now, I have raised my shields, nothing can penetrate."

  "So we can talk freely?"

  "For the moment," she replied, "But don't forget, whatever we discuss now... the thoughts will linger, he will still be able to extract them from your mind."

  "Perfect" Maulik sighed, "We can talk in confidence but my mind will still give me away."

  "I am sorry Maulik" she replied, "That is a fact of life."

  "Just tell me one thing... do you have any knowledge of Go'an's plans for the future?"

  "No" she replied instantly, "And please don't concern yourself over something that is beyond your control, just concentrate on the mission because once it is finished we can explore the galaxy together, as a Terrillian Scout and his ship, nothing else will matter."

  Maulik sensed she knew a great deal more than she would admit but didn't push any further, "Perhaps some things are best not to know." he sighed and bid his friend good night.

  ***

  The planet below them was small compared to their usual harvesting grounds but instantly Maulik saw the bio scans he understood Kressa's comment implying an infestation.

  "L6's are out of control down there" he signalled Relik who was also studying the life sign readings on his own screen.

  "I've never seen activity like it before," he declared in wonder, "The first scouts arrived only two hundred years ago, but just look at the readings now!"

  Maulik grinned, "I think this will be a shorter trip than anticipated, based on this new data we can harvest a full quota here."

  Maulik had been concerned about the extra 3.265% that Kressa had calculated, but that had been based on historical data, now he saw a planet groaning under the strain of a species out of control.

  "How long will the ecosystem take to recover if we remove all of the L6 organisms?" Relik bent over his console and instructed the computer to build a projection.

  "If we harvest them all, the planet should recover within one hundred and fifty years, that one species is responsible for all of the imbalances."

  "Suggestions?"

  Relik smiled, "We could keep a sample flock in stasis for re-introduction in the future, if we re-seed in one hundred years with maybe ten thousand or so, the planet will have recovered sufficiently, from that point we should undertake selective harvesting on a regular basis to keep the population under control and at manageable levels."

  "My thoughts exactly." Maulik concurred, it was his duty as Harvester Master to address any abnormalities on planets within his control, he wasn't going to eradicate the species, simply remove it while the planets natural systems returned to stability.

  "Have engineering calibrate the drones and collectors to concentrate only on the L6's, and find out which harvesters are closest to our location," he glanced again at the raw data feed, "We will need help with this."

  Over the following twenty four hours 7 buzzed with activity as holds were cleaned and prepared for the bounty about to arrive, Maulik and Kressa performed surveillance of the planet sampling the atmosphere and transmitting the data back to engineering, Hold 33 was being prepared as a holding pen for the sample livestock so the planets noxious atmosphere would have to be reproduced for the trip home.

  "These creatur
es would actually flourish in the wastelands of Terrillia," he concluded as they flashed over vast areas of corrosive water, "The atmospheric mix is very similar, higher levels of methane are being emitted here than home, but the difference is not significant."

  "How does it feel to play the role of the Gods?" teased Kressa, "One mind having control over the fate of an entire species?"

  "I prefer not to think of it that way," he grinned, "I like to think that I am addressing a problem, I am allowing the planet to recover, and anyway, they are only L6's."

  "And I'm only an L4." she replied trying to mask the hurt she was feeling.

  "Now you're talking crazy," he chuckled back, "You are beyond any level I know of, you're on a level all of your own."

  Kressa dipped lower over the wide expanse of water just moments from skimming the surface. "Back to the land" she called as she tore over the coastline, her wake tearing away the strange green vegetation and driving a wide scorched furrow deep into the ground, moments later she was out over open grassland. "This is the sort of place I would call home... in my natural state," she added wistfully, "Open country, plenty of space to run and hunt... and look at all the prey." she growled as vast herds of strange bovine like creatures scattered across the wide plains, "They almost make me feel hungry." she laughed.

  "Are these the L6's?"

  "No," she replied, "There is nothing here above L4, these are prey animals."

  "let's track down the L6's," Maulik encouraged her, "I want to see what could cause such devastation."

  Kressa extended her scans, "There are not the concentrations in this region, hold on," she laughed and shot away north, "There are high concentrations a few minutes to the north."

  Maulik saw a wide expanse of wasteland ahead, devoid even of the troublesome pools that had developed at home.

  "I think this is a perfect example of why we need to remove this species,"

  Kressa scanned, "Life signs are very limited," she agreed, "Almost zero, but just ahead you will be shocked, there are millions of them."

  "We are above one of the northern continents now," she declared and slowed down until they were almost hovering silently over a very high concentration, "My scans show that below is one of many colonies of the creatures, they must have a social structure, the density is incredible, they are almost like insects."

  "All L6?"

  "Almost," she replied running complex calculations, "L1 levels are high, but that is to be expected, Levels 2 to 4 are in evidence but not in any significant numbers, mainly L6, I believe these creatures must live mainly in colonies."

  "Well that will be advantageous to the harvest," agreed Maulik, "I like colonies, it makes my life much simpler."

  "They are scattered everywhere, in small pockets as well as these main concentrations."

  "That, is not my problem," laughed Maulik, "I will capture a breeding herd and then harvest until my holds are full, the remaining stocks can be handled by other crews."

  "Two more harvesters are due within eight weeks," Kressa confirmed, "With two more to arrive shortly after."

  "We will be long gone by then my friend," he laughed, "Now let’s go home, I have a harvest to plan, and then we have a mission to complete.”

  Chapter 5

  Chancellor Go'an took no political prisoners as he cleared the old High Council and began his new appointments, most believed that it was no coincidence that his staunchest supporters had not been in session at the time of the attack because they soon arose from the still smouldering ashes of the Citadel and took prominent positions of power.

  Those that dared opposed the new Chancellor disappeared and an entire race held their breath, few doubted that the old ways were about to disappear as completely as the opposition and rumour was rife.

  "People of Watuma," Go'an had openly wept during former Chancellor Lu'ta's eulogy,

  "People of Watuma" he continued, "Today is a sad day for our planet and colonies, we are laying to rest the finest peacetime leader since our history began," he paused and studied the silent faces sampling thoughts, anticipation hung in the air, mixed with fear and hatred.

  "But we are no-longer at peace." he shouted suddenly making those closest to the podium jump and clutch their heads, Go'an was communicating on two levels, verbally and telepathically, everyone would receive his message and vision for the future.

  "War is upon us, our enemy approaches, we do not know if it will be today, or tomorrow, or next year, or twenty years from now... but do not doubt, they are coming, and they bring death. They are not benign Gods as you have been led to believe, they are predators, conquerors, they come to kill not bless," he paused again and tasted the reactions, it was still early to form an opinion so he continued his rhetoric,

  "Well I will not lie down for them," he channelled his formidable power into the statement and absolute silence followed, all minds were now open to his suggestions, he smiled a slow and cruel smile, "I will not submit, and neither will my High Council," he chuckled as he caught small comments about his use of the word my not the, he was laying the basis for a new style of government and he was happy that his hints were being picked up.

  "I have been your humble servant for many years as Vice Chancellor, and as a servant of the people I have always held the welfare and sovereignty of the Watu close to my heart, I have increased the size of our military, I have developed weaponry that will be used to protect our wives, our children, our homes... our planet."

  "The threat is real, the enemy knocks at our door, I will not welcome them in and bow down before them, the people of Watuma bow to no enemy," he shook his bone staff and felt the alignment of millions of minds, billions of minds, minds rallying to a common cause, "We stand united as a people... or we fall divided."

  "I will tolerate No division," the sentence thundered around the planet carried by every satellite, and a world cheered as one voice. Go'an smiled, he had their full attention, he had made it clear that he was the High Council, he was the ultimate authority on Watuma, and most importantly he would tolerate no opposition to his absolute rule.

  Raising his hands he signalled for quiet before he continued.

  "People of Watuma, I serve you still as your Chancellor, every action that I take from this day forward will be for the betterment and security of our world, this I swear before you all in the name of the true Gods."

  Theatrically Go'an reached towards the sky and prayed out loud, imploring the blessings of the Gods, begging for strength and wisdom, shaking his staff and swearing to protect his people as they were his witness, he felt the hatred diminish slowly being replaced with a patriotic fervour.

  "I am not here to campaign," he finished, almost a whisper but clear as crystal, "I am here to say farewell to a friend, I pray that you will show me the same support that you showed him during the dark days that lie ahead of us. Bless the Watu."

  The ovation was expected and Go'an could barely stand, the mental energy that he had expended to influence an entire race had been staggering, but influence them he had, and he was now undisputed Chancellor of a united people.

  ***

  "Assist me." he ordered the new Vice Chancellor who walked at his side as they descended the steps from the podium, Go'an felt his knees begin to tremble, the concentration required for his first planet wide address had drained his strength.

  "Fine words Brother," answered Vice Chancellor Na'ta as he grasped the offered arm and added his support, "Father would be proud of you if he were still with us."

  "I am exhausted brother," admitted Go'an, "But the crowds must not see me weak, I must always be strong in their minds."

  "This is a fleeting weakness," comforted Na'ta, "It will soon pass, you have such strength, I could not have extended that much influence over so many."

  Go'an shook his head, "You are still young, your own power will develop in time, have patience, your time will come."

  Go'an searched his mind for the contact with his Terrillian far out in de
ep space but could only find a buzz of static interference, he concentrated again without success, "I am more exhausted than I first imagined." he told himself but it mattered little, after resting he would try again, Master Maulik would be in safe hands with the Kressa unit, the Terrillian was still many weeks away from his meeting with the Diurians, so much hinged on his missions success but Go'an had plenty of work to do getting his own house in order before the negotiations could begin.

  Go'an ran over the growing list of potential allies he wanted in his new Federation, the Terrillians were already part, the Diurian's would soon follow, he hoped, they would be powerful friends to have, if he could smooth away the distrust that had clouded their relations for centuries. The Su'al were another possibility if he could convince them to cease their constant in-fighting and territorial squabbles, their territories would mean nothing in the end he smiled, when he had stripped away all of the borders. His mind drifted to other plans.

  "I am going to the institute," he announced, "I can rest on the transport."

  "Do you want me to join you?" questioned Na'ta.

  "You are Vice Chancellor now," snapped Go'an, "You represent me when I am away from the Citadel... sometimes I worry about you brother," Go'an sighed, "Just oversee the clearance work, I want my new Council Chambers built within the month, that should keep you busy."

  The institute had been Go'an's brainchild when he came into office and was dedicated to bio-mechanical research, a subject that had always fascinated him. Until the formation of the institute organic integration had been a fantasy but Go'an had drawn together a group of dreamers and chemists, engineers and biologists and set them to work with unlimited funding and facilities that were the envy of established scientists across the planet. His detractors had called it a crazy dream sponsored by a deluded war monger, their voices had slowly disappeared, those that couldn't be bought had all met with untimely accidents which only served to fuel Go'an's reputation for ruthlessness.

  It was inside the institute that the Kressa project had been conceived, his team had shown some advances as they integrated the higher functions of several species of reptiles into mechanical skins, the results were promising but very limited in application. It had been Go'an himself who had suggested work should begin with a more aggressive species and the short-list of suitable indigenous predators had been whittled down until only the sleek and agile Kressa remained.