Tarizon, The Liberator, Tarizon Trilogy Vol 1

37

  A Hollow Victory

  When Lortec was out of sight, Peter reported in to command to find out the outcome of the battle. He learned that early assessments indicated that they'd killed or wounded nearly seventy-eight percent of the TGA forces on Lortec. Most of the munitions stored on the island had been destroyed or spent in the battle. Seventy-five percent of the TGA planes were eliminated by the bombers, the ground team, and in aerial combat. The Loyalists had lost thirty-two fighters and three bombers. Clearly they had been the victor in this battle, but the day wasn't done.

  Command reported to Peter that the location of their base had definitely been compromised and several TGA aircraft carriers and battleships were headed toward LB1. He was warned that the submarines were already there lurking about the waters around the island. Accordingly, a full evacuation of the base was in progress and Peter and his unit could not return there. Their instructions were to find a deserted island, anchor, and wait for further instructions.

  Peter's heart sank into bitter despair. He wondered what had become of Luci? Was she okay? When would he see her again? He'd asked these questions to the communications officer who had taken his call, but he had gotten no answers. He'd have to wait to hear from command in a few days when the evacuation and base relocation was complete. Then they'd get their orders and find out where to report.

  They cruised for several more hours until they came to an island that the captain thought was deserted. He pulled them into a small cove and dropped the anchor. Before nightfall they rowed a small boat, with Sy's body in it, to shore. After finding a suitable location, they dug a grave and buried him. Red made a crude headstone out of scrap wood on the boat. It read: Here lies Syril Johs who died in the first battle to save the Supreme Mandate. Sandee be with him. As the sun was setting in the west, everyone on the ship gathered at the grave to pay their last respects. Peter spoke first.

  "Sy was the most courageous person I have ever met," he said. "He was always the first to volunteer for any assignment no matter how dangerous it was. He always wanted to be point man—in the thick of battle at all times. . . . He was fiercely loyal to his friends and to the Supreme Mandate. Although I only knew him a short while, I will always consider him one of my closest friends. I will miss him."

  When Peter was finished, Red stepped up."Sy was like a brother to me. As you know, I'm the nervous one in the group—the 'chicken' as they say on Earth. As Leek said, Sy was the complete opposite. He had incredible courage. But Sy was also very patient and compassionate. He never chastised me for my fears, but instead assured me everything would be okay and not to fear the future. May Sandee be with you, my brother. Rest in tranquility."

  Red stepped back and Tam came forward. He stood there in silence a moment before he spoke. "What I liked most about Sy was his sense of humor. I guess that's how he handled stress. He'd make a joke of a bad situation and put everyone at ease. And he was a man you could trust. I never worried about him covering my back when times got tough. My biggest regret is that I only knew him for such a short time. He's the kind of friend you want to have for a lifetime."

  After the memorial they set up camp on shore. With submarines lurking about they didn't feel safe aboard ship. It was early evening, so the captain made a fire and his crew made supper. It was quiet around the campfire. They had just lost a friend and nobody felt much like talking. It was strange for Peter sitting out in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do. It had been non-stop action since he'd left for Muhl. Now there was too much time to think and worry about what would become of them. Was the Loyalist cause lost? Where would they move the base? Was there even a ghost of a chance they could defeat Videl with his vastly superior forces? Peter finally decided some conversation might be better than continuing to worry and going slowly insane.

  "Those Seafolken were amazing," Peter said.

  "Yes, I've heard stories about them," Red replied. "I thought it was all just a myth, but I was wrong. Did you see them pick the bullets out of their skin?"

  "Yes. So, if they are so powerful and so hard to kill, why don't they rule Tarizon?" Peter asked. “How did they become slaves? How were they conquered?"

  "Well," Tam replied, "they've always been a peaceful life-form without political ambition, so many humans took advantage of that, gradually usurping their rights and discriminating against them. But it was technology that ultimately brought the Seafolken to their knees. You see their abilities are all from nature, bestowed on them by the will of Sandee. They were happy with the abilities God gave them and had no need for technology. So, initially Central Authority left them alone out of fear and respect, until they figured out a way to kill them."

  "How do they kill them?"

  "Well, you saw that bullets could not pierce the Seafolken's thick skin?"

  "Yes."

  "Well, the scientists worked on that and came up with a split-finger bulletbomb."

  "What's that?" Peter asked.

  "It's a bullet that is really a combination bullet and bomb. The front of the bulletbomb is a traditional bullet and fires normally. The bullet lodges in the target and then a tik later the other end of the bullet explodes. That's why you saw the Seafolken picking out the bullets that lodged in the skin and casting them aside. They were afraid they might be bulletbombs. If you're quick you can yank them out before they explode. Of course, you might lose a hand or a finger in the process."

  "Hmm."

  "Anyway, as I was saying, it was the great volcanic eruptions and tidal waves that drew them out of the sea. The sea became so polluted that the fish they usually fed on couldn't survive. At first Central Authority fed them as a humanitarian gesture, but soon they demanded service from the Seafolken in exchange for food. Eventually it turned to slavery and those who refused were killed.

  "That's why the Seafolken love to go to Earth. While they are there they get to feed in the clear rivers and lakes there. The sea around Lortec is almost back to normal now, so many of the Seafolken who have been lucky enough to escape bondage have come here to live."

  When the fire went out and everyone finally went to bed, Peter couldn't sleep. The ground was just too hard to get comfortable. Every position he tried soon became painful. When he did get into a tolerable position, he'd start to worry about Luci, his family back on Earth, or Sy. He wondered where Sy was that night. With God? He prayed that was the case.

  It was a long night but the sun did rise the next morning and, as usually was the case, with the new day came new hope. The despair of the previous day was replaced with determination to go on and to ultimately defeat Videl Lai no matter what it took.