Last Stand Page 19

  Before scanning the last Terran, Harlu Az initiated the process of downloading of the mind engrams into the drones. As each drone received its mind implant, it began to take on many of the physical and mental characteristics of the Terran whose engrams now inhabited its brain. While none of them would ever be mistaken as human or be able to pass themselves off as their Terran predecessors, they shared certain basic characteristics as height, body type, facial shapes, and vocal patterns with their human counterparts.

  As soon as each new Z’Laan/Terran avatar was integrated with its engram programming, it was sent to its assigned star vessel to prepare the ship for battle. By duplicating the mind of each of the humans many times over, Harlu Az was able to create enough Z’Laan/Terran avatars to crew 36 Z’Laan war ships.

  The Primary Armory’s computer systems prioritized the conversion of the 36 vessels for use by Terrans and Z’Laan/Terran avatars. As each vessel was prepared and crewed, it was moved into position near the northern polar entrance.

  At one point, Bradley, Ian Huntington-Smythe, and Harlu Az stood at a large observation window along one wall of the Command Center, gazing at the fleet as it was being assembled. Each of the ships gleamed, thousands of lights within the Armory’s interior reflecting off of the silvery metal of their hulls.

  When Bradley grunted, Huntington-Smythe and Harlu Az looked at him questioningly. Bradley answered, “It’s just that, other than the apparent differences between the different classes of ships, they all look…alike! How will we know which ship is which?”

  Bradley and his chief engineer turned their gazes to the Z’Laan avatar. Harlu Az didn’t pause before answering. “Z’Laan ships broadcast an identification code to the other vessels in their fleet. This code is tagged to the vessel’s location on the monitors of the other vessels in the fleet. All you need to do is read the identification from the monitor.”

  Bradley smiled and replied, “We use a similar process in the Terran Fleet for our tactical displays during flight and battles. But I’m referring to when you look at a vessel like we’re doing now. How could I know the name of that vessel over there…or that one down there? On Earth, we paint the name and identification number of the vessel in prominent locations on the hull for all to see. It creates a sense of identity for the ship and its crew.”

  “Ah!” said Harlu Az. “I understand what you are saying. But why paint it on the hull? Why not program the z’ilya metal of the hull to display whatever information you like?”

  “Z’ilya metal? Program?” Bradley asked. “Program…how?”

  “Select a vessel, Captain Bradley,” Harlu Az instructed the Terran captain, waving a hand towards the fleet assembling outside the window.

  Bradley peered through the window and finally pointed to a large carrier vessel not far from the observation room. Harlu Az entered some commands into the console before him. “That ship has been named Andromeda by her captain. Please show me on this display, Captain Bradley, where your identification markings would appear on one of your vessels.”

  The Terran captain looked at the image of the carrier on the display. With his right forefinger, he indicated locations on both sides of the bow, on the stern, underneath the vessel and across the stubby tower of the bridge. Harlu Az entered some new instructions into the console then pointed towards the carrier floating beyond the window.

  The metal of the ship’s hull shimmered at the locations Bradley had indicated. Tall, dark letters formed, spelling out Andromeda in letters easily 30 feet or more in height. “What other identifiers are used on your vessels, captain?”

  “Usually the ship’s assigned registry number and the Terran Federation flag,” answered Bradley. He entered the locations and some other information on the display. More shimmering, then new letters and numbers appeared, spelling out ZFCV-002 beneath the ship’s name. Harlu Az entered some additional commands into the console and small Terran Federation flags appeared next to the ship’s name and registry number.

  “That looks great, Harlu Az! This will help our crews see these vessels as individual entities worthy of their love, devotion, and loyalty. Send this information out to the fleet, Harlu Az. Let them choose…and display…their ships’ names for all to see!”

  “It has been done, Captain Bradley,” said Harlu Az. “The Bennu has been included in that order. I see, in reflecting on this conversation, that this was a potentiality that I could have briefed you on previously…but did not. I apologize.” Bradley did his best to hide a smile. Advanced as the Z’Laan race had been, they weren’t perfect.

  **********

  Over the next few days, Jarrod and Harlu Az spent what little free time they can find discussing the final era of the Z’Laan. From the updates he received from Z’La’s Central Core, Harlu Az explained that the Z’Laan had created ever more advanced nanite technologies to meet their agricultural, manufacturing, medical, and service needs. No longer needing to work they had turned to other pursuits. After defeating Azairi, they warned the saurians to remain in their home star system and the vast Z’Laan war fleets returned to their armories and were put into mothballs.

  Becoming more and more internally focused, the Z’Laan became isolationists, at first with the races they seeded on other worlds and then amongst themselves. Their population began to dwindle and their civilization began to shrink as well. There came a time when no new children were born. The few surviving Z’Laan felt that it was the natural order of the universe that they and their civilization were destined to pass into history.

  “That’s a pretty sad testament to a once great race, Granther Harlu Az,” Jarrod told his friend. “It sounds as if they lost the ability to pursue greater achievements…to evolve beyond what they already were.”

  “Yes,” Harlu Az replied, a note of sadness apparent in his voice. “The Z’Laan civilization stagnated, feeling that in seeding the galaxy they had created the future. A future they believed they were no longer a part of. The decline took thousands upon thousands of years but in the end, they all died. The last of the Z’Laan had their physical forms transformed into component atoms and merged with the towers of their families by the very automatons they had created. Fortunately, they left behind engram avatars such as myself for our progeny to find one day.”

  Jarrod sat quietly for a moment then asked, “Did your people leave behind any of their own genetic materials?”

  Harlu Az nodded. “We researched genetics, of course. That research helped us find ways to encourage a body to heal itself or replace damaged limbs, if need be. Later, that same research helped us seed other worlds with variations of our genetic material. We stopped short of cloning sentient individuals, feeling that to do so diminished that individual.”

  “Well, we just cloned the minds of lots of my people,” said Jarrod.

  “Yes and no,” Harlu Az began, “We copied their memories and merged them with nanite-colony avatars, but we did not replicate the individuals on a genetic level.”

  “I was just thinking that if we could find you, we could find other Z’Laan avatars one day. If we had Z’Laan genetic materials couldn’t we clone new, living bodies for you and your fellow engram avatars and recreate the Z’Laan race?”

  Harlu Az was quiet for a moment, obviously deep in thought. Finally, he answered, “That is an interesting proposal. One on which I must spend a great amount of time considering. Perhaps, once we resolve the Azairi invasion, we may explore this topic again.”

  “If we survive, I promise you that your children amongst the stars will help you bring back your people, Granther Harlu Az,” Jarrod promised. He paused for a moment then continued. “I hope you realize that my race will probably take a different tack with the Azairi than your predecessors did. I cannot guarantee that we would be willing to merely trap them once again within their system. There may be calls to wipe them out!”

  Harlu Az nodded again. “Each generation must deal with its struggles in its own ways. If we Z’Laan had resolved the Azair
i issue millennia ago, your race and hundreds of other races would not now be in danger. We unknowingly left this problem for you to resolve.”

  “We’re not as evolved as your race was, Harlu Az. We still have some very primitive emotions and behaviors we must deal with,” said Jarrod.

  “Perhaps, my son, if the Z’Laan hadn’t lost some of those very same primitive emotions and behaviors millennia ago, we would not be discussing that race in the past tense,” Harlu Az replied. “Perhaps, if we are to try to revive my race, the engram avatars you speak of will need to relearn many things that our children races can teach us.”

  Jarrod smiled and patted his friend on the shoulder. “Perhaps, oh ancient ancestor, the avatars such as yourself still have the vestiges of these emotions and behaviors that later generations of Z’Laan lost during your absence.”

  **********

  On the morning of the sixth day, two vessels on short shakedown cruises within the Z’Laan system discovered another vessel entering the system. Scans of the approaching vessel identified it as a Terran Federation Defense Fleet frigate. Strangely, it was moving at an unprecedented speed for a vessel of its class.

  Mac Bradley was in the command center when the Terran vessel hailed him. “Mac, it’s great to see you,” said Captain Nils Hemsford when Bradley answered the hail. “Sorry for bursting in on you. The Z’Laan enhancements to our FTL drives and shields got us here much faster than anticipated.”

  Hemsford had been one of Bradley’s friends since their academy days. During their careers, they had served on a number of vessels together and gone on many historic pub crawls together on a dozen or so colony worlds.

  “Welcome to Z’Laenarii, Z’La’s Primary Armory, Nils!” responded Bradley. “What’s the good word?”

  Hemsford shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “I’m afraid there isn’t a good word, ol’ buddy. Things are going badly back in the Camadin System. We’ve held off the Azairi but at a terribly high cost. The commodore is preparing to evacuate civilians and other non-combatants to the systems you identified. The Z’Laan tech has helped but hasn’t been enough. The Azairi are advancing. It’s only a matter of time before they enter Camadin’s system and attack the station and the planet!”

  Bradley interrupted Hemsford, “Then it’s time for some payback. We’ve got 36 Z’Laan ships about ready to launch. Getting enough crew has been tough but we’re just about ready to go.”

  “Well, I’ve brought another 325 personnel,” Hemsford began, “but they’re not trained up yet!”

  Bradley brightened at the news. “Not yet, but soon. Hopefully, soon enough. Okay, here’s what we’re going to do. One of our vessels will guide you to our base. Harlu Az will be remaining here on Z’Laenarii. You and Harlu Az will be responsible for preparing another fleet of battle wagons and training up crews for them. Meanwhile, my fleet will depart within the next six hours and make for Camadin.” Bradley used his neurological command implant to send a message to his senior officers. Red Alert! I repeat, Red Alert! Prepare the fleet for departure within six hours! Camadin faces imminent attack. Let’s move it, folks!

  Bradley received acknowledgments from his officers via his implant then turned his attention back to the comm monitor and Captain Hemsford. “Nils, I’ll see you shortly.” He cut the link and went to speak to Harlu Az.

  He found the Z’Laan avatar in another part of the command center interfacing with the base’s central computer core. “Harlu Az,” began Bradley, “I need to speak with you for a moment.”

  “That is not a problem, captain,” replied the alien. “I have finished programming the next group of vessels to be readied for battle. How may I assist you?”

  “A Terran vessel will be docking soon. It’s bringing a new group of personnel that require further training and mind scanning,” answered Bradley. “Captain Nils Hemsford, an old friend of mine, is in command. He tells me that the war is going badly for the remaining Terran Colonies. The Azairi are ready to tackle the Camadin System. We’re needed…the fleet is needed back at Camadin.”

  Harlu Az bobbed his head in reply. “Then we should prepare to leave at the earliest possible moment!”

  “We’ll be shipping out within six hours,” Bradley said. “But I’d like you to remain here and help Hemsford prepare the next group of Terrans, avatars, and vessels for battle.”

  “I thought that I would accompany you and Jarrod and the others,” said Harlu Az. “There is much I can assist you with during battle against the Azairi!”

  “I understand, Granther Harlu Az, but you are needed here! Jarrod, Ian, and I discussed this a couple of days ago. We need you to prepare more vessels and crews. When this new group is ready, send them to us as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, we’ll try to get you at least one more shipload of new recruits…hopefully more! Get them trained and get us more vessels to fight with, Harlu Az. That is what we need to turn the tide of this invasion.”

  Harlu Az was quiet for a couple of minutes then looked Bradley directly in the eye. “You shall have your vessels and crews, Captain Bradley. This I promise you!”

  “Thank you, Granther Harlu,” Bradley responded. “Jarrod and I knew we could depend on you!”

  “Very well, captain. What can I do now to help your fleet prepare for departure?” the alien avatar asked.

  Bradley smiled and outlined a plan for the Primary Amory’s automated systems and drones to transfer the maximum amounts of ordinance and supplies to each of the ships in the fleet. The captain surprised Jarrod, Harlu Az, and the others by suggesting that his vessel be crewed entirely by Terran/Z’Laan avatars. Bradley felt his flagship would be the primary target of the Azairi fleet and it would increase the odds of the other Terrans surviving by spreading them out amongst the other ships by having the ranking officers and many other positions aboard the other ships crewed by Terrans. He also asked Harlu Az one last favor. Harlu Az waved Bradley over to a console near one of the large observation windows overlooking the assembled fleet. The alien pressed a series of controls on the console then pointed out the window to one of the large space carriers hovering near the window.

  “There is your flagship, Captain Bradley!”

  Mac Bradley looked at the vessel in question and smiled. It now bore its name and registry numbers. Wait until James sees that when we heave to outside Camadin Station, Bradley thought.

  Displayed prominently in several places on the hull of the vessl was the name TFDFCV Rivers. Its registry number read ZFCV-001.

  **********

  Harlu Az had only a few moments to say goodbye to Jarrod and Ellie. He caught up to them as they prepared to board the shuttle that would take them to their new vessel, the TFDF Frigate Europa II.

  “Be safe, my children,” he said to them. He held out his right hand to Jarrod and said, “I believe this is a customary Terran gesture upon parting company?”

  Jarrod took the offered hand and shook it warmly. “It is, Granther Harlu.”

  Ellie stepped up to Harlu Az and embraced him. “This is another human way of saying goodbye, Granther Harlu.” She hugged him for a moment and was pleasantly surprised when he responded in kind.

  Harlu Az stepped back to look at Jarrod and Ellie. He reached out and gently took Ellie’s right hand then Jarrod’s and placed them together between his own palms. “My people once worshipped much as yours do. We had a Great Creator known to us as Z’L. When we would bond to one another as mates, the ceremony was dedicated to Z’L and our hands would be held together in this manner. As you two are now, so you shall always be…together in mind and body and spirit. May you go forward with the blessing of Z’L and prosper!”

  “Thank you, Granther,” Jarrod said solemnly. Ellie hugged Harlu Az once more and kissed him upon the cheek. Harlu Az blinked and touched his cheek then clumsily but with great feeling kissed Ellie on the cheek.

  “Thank you, my children,” said Harlu Az. He paused, nodded to them, then turned and walked away. Jarrod and Ellie watched him
for a moment then boarded their shuttle.

  Chapter 12

  Ship's Log

  TFDFCV Rivers

  Earthdate: 23 January 2231

  Captain McLelland Bradley, Commanding

  It’s time! Ready or not, we have the personnel, we have the vessels, and the fleet is assembled. I can only pray that we reach Camadin Station in time…and that our fleet can make a difference.

  The fleet was assembled in orbit above the artificial world that was the Primary Armory. With all vessels in position, Captain Bradley made a broadcast to their crews.

  “Attention all hands! This is Captain Bradley. In moments, the fleet will get underway for Camadin. Based on the latest reports we have received, the Camadin System is in danger of imminent attack by the Azairi. Our vessels are of a design more recent than the Bennu that brought us to Z’La. These vessels are much faster and more powerful, but we are still few in number when compared to an Azairi fleet.” Bradley paused for a moment then continued. “But our friends and family members in the Camadin System are waiting for us to come to their aid. And we will! This fleet is capable of reaching Camadin in just under 40 hours. We need to be battle ready the moment we arrive if we wish to take the fight to the Azairi.”

  Bradley looked around his bridge and at the cameras placed around it so that crews on all of the ships could see him. “Between now and then, we will run battle drills to prepare for our arrival. We may get lucky and not encounter the Azairi as soon as we drop out of FTL…but we can’t expect that. I’m hoping that we’ll be able to establish contact with Camadin Station as we near the system. If so, then we’ll should be able to get some idea of what we’ll find waiting for us.”

  “But make no mistake…we will arrive prepared for battle. And, to do that…we’re going drill, drill, drill until everyone is totally familiar with their battle stations. I know each of you is ready to take on the Azairi. Together, we shall fight…and win!”