Chapter 2: Fixin’ To Part 1

A few hours had passed. Inside another portion of the Rampage’s spinning ring was a makeshift set of quarters fit for a prince.

Darin’s room was perhaps no different than most of the rooms on the ship, but its personality was different. There was enough space for two people. One side of the room consisted of a wooden desk and chair mounted near the right wall, with a main computer and display. Darin sat on the chair, seemingly in a video call with someone else. Its camera was pointed at him, the corner, and the back wall. On that wall was a US flag with 52 stars. Sets of various guns and rifles were also mounted, highlighting different periods in Earth’s past. Almost all of the firearms seemed ancient, older than the current guns of today. On the right wall was a larger display unit, a digital TV set.

On the other side of it was a bed, fit for two people. The comfy furniture was different from the cubbyhole alcoves most warships used, having been both rebuilt and reshaped. It was a luxury-style arrangement, fitted with straps to restrain the body in the absence of gravity. Throughout the room were various memorabilia, more specifically reminiscent of a 19th-century explorer. One corner had an enclosed safe and a bookshelf filled with ancient books. Another wall near the bed had an artificial buck head mounted, almost overlooking the room. Different pictures from an ancient submarine could be seen on one side near the door, and another showed NASCAR vehicles racing down a track somewhere in North America. There was even a photograph of an action star, one dressed similarly to Darin.

Wrapping around the desk, away from the desk camera’s viewpoint, was a small hallway cavity that led to the bathroom itself.

On Darin’s computer screen, it showed a Shal’rein. The shark-like Itrean had light- and dark-gray skin on her face. She had a pointed snout and fin-like ears. Her purple woven hair rested over one side of her shoulder. This one in particular wore a mostly green, black, and white spandex-like suit that covered most of her body, reminiscent of that worn by a high-ranking Itrean. Unlike the typical and sometimes violent Shal’rein, Darin knew her as a T’rintar Shal’rein, more specifically, an ally.

“I’m afraid, Veleshar, that your information was as nothing more than a lick and a promise,” Darin told her.

“You had no success with Folta’Trak 5 and Wopj’Ha 3?” Veleshar asked back, carrying almost no accent in her voice.

“Folta’Trak 5 is about as defensible as Fort Knox. The Shal’rein have over twenty warships protecting it. Meanwhile, Wopj’Ha 3, assuming I even pronounced it right, didn’t have anything at all. The base had been abandoned and scuttled for over six months.”

“Oh...,” Veleshar pressed her gray four-fingered hand to her snout. “Twenty ships at Folta? Oh, dearie, I’m so sorry that I led you astray.” She seemed partly flustered. “It seems that my absence from the Shal’rein clan is becoming astute. I remember that Folta’Trak 5 was less important as a communication post before I joined the T’rintar clan. It seems that the Shal’rein have been conducting more fleet movements through that sector in the last year. As for Wopj’Ha 3 ... I don’t know why they would abandon it.”

“Right now, partner. I need a target ... a victory to take home back to Earth ... something to impress my supporters.”

“I know,” she said as she thought about it. “Without your help, I wouldn’t have been able to attack Renlar. I want to be able to repay you.”

Darin seemed to think about it. “What about another attack on Renlar? Surely we could inflict more damage onto their shipyards.”

Veleshar shook her head. “Master Adjunct Zedresh isn’t leaving Renlar behind. Even then, we barely made it out alive. It was worth it, but they would anticipate another strike...” She sighed. “Unfortunately, even with that victory, I can’t risk both your crew and mine in another dangerous mission.”

Darin shook his head. “I need something more than that. You know why I’m out here, why I’m taking the fight to the Itreans.”

“I know, Darin. I understand your grievances with the T’rintar clan, especially with the humans giving Earth to them. I know you’re trying to prove something to everyone. I know that you and your crew are willing to put your lives on the line for anything. Unfortunately, my knowledge on the Shal’rein clan fades with each day.”

“You getting pregnant mess with your mind or something?”

Veleshar’s nostrils flared as she looked away for a moment. “ ... Perhaps.” She had a light chuckle on her face before she looked at him. “Maybe a part of me wants to move on, but here I am, discussing my personal life with you rather than my own daughter.”

“Maybe I should contact her.”

“ ... Shira is one that you have to tread carefully when you speak with her. She’ll help you if she wants to or sees the point in it.” She sighed for a moment. “No ... I have to see if there is something I can do to repay you and your crew.” She thought about it for a moment. “Where are you located right now?”

“Approximately one light year from the region known as the Hesik Expanse. We’re in the marked territory between both the T’rintar clan and the Shal’rein clan borders.”

“Yes. You’re in a border region between both the Kingdom of Gui’optre and the Gok’shinta subclan. The Hesik Expanse ... hmmm...”

“What do you know of it?” Darin asked.

She seemed to think about it. “As I recall, the Hesik Expanse doesn’t offer much between both the T’rintar clan and the Shal’rein clan. It’s why it makes a perfect natural border between both. Neither fights very much for it because there is little to gain from it.”

“No important targets?”

“Its resources were mined out almost 200,000 of your years ago, during the age of Old Space. The only known major influence of it is the Helera’Kun.”

“The Helera what now?”

“It’s what they call themselves. They’re ... the Fo’mil of the Shal’rein clan, more specifically, the Shin’Fo’mil, those that reject the induced evolution that shaped the Itreans to what we appear today.”

“I’m well aware of the Fo’mil, Veleshar.”

“Oh?...” Veleshar remarked, seemingly curious.

“I have one on my ship. Where is this Helera’kun stronghold?”

“It’s called Kun, the mother world of the Helera’kun. Long ago, the Helera’kun pilgrims settled on that world, but it lies on the edge of the Hesik Expanse, marking the border between both clans. Originally, the Helera’kun Shal’rein were trying to look at the Hesik Expanse as a place to mine and harvest the resources, but they were quickly exhausted.”

“Like findin a shallow well...”

“Yes. Trying to fight the Helera’kun head-on will never work. It’s the fortress world of the Hesik Expanse. But...” She paused as she thought about it. “There is something that you might be able to do...”

“I’m listening...”

“ ... There’s a reason why I fight for the T’rintar clan. Both my daughter and I may not always see eye to eye on everything, but there was one fundamental reason why I chose to leave the Shal’rein clan for good.” She patted her stomach, but it was hard for the camera angle to see all of it. But Darin understood the gesture.

“Because of Zilik’s Disease...” Darin remarked.

“Exactly. I chose to fight because I knew I could have a future. I’m sure you already understand it, but I can’t emphasize it more. Maybe I can say it strongly enough on why every Itrean fights for herself or her state, but the disease that prevents male offspring from being born again has been all but devastating for us. But the moment I saw the videos of humans and Itreans being together ... that you, humans, carried the cure ... I’d fight 100 times stronger for the T’rintar clan ... for my daughter ... for everyone.”

Darin seemed to think about it for a few seconds. “What if there was a way to turn the Itreans against each other? ... Convince the Shal’rein or the Aksren, as the T’rintar clan are trying to do now?”

“It’s through the Helera’kun where you hold a more likely chance of convincing them. I know some of their plight. Contrary to belief, not all Itreans are fully united with their clan. Some fight because they have no choice, because they don’t know, or they do know, and they don’t care, but then there’s also the fact of something else. Many of the Itrean governments outright ignore the propaganda. It becomes ... background noise to us. When your people fight in endless wars ... conflicts, battles, the words of the enemy become a simple annoyance. But, with Zilik’s Disease, our ears are open, just a little ... that the governments become afraid that something might be the truth about you, humans. They choose to suppress the others from learning about that fact.”

“And that was what happened with you?” Darin asked her.

“Yes. But with the Helera’kun, their history is that of suspicion with the Shal’rein clan. To them, they view themselves as the true Shal’rein, the original Shal’rein. They wanted to live on Kun to leave the Shal’rein clan behind. Sadly, they never got that wish. Within 10,000 years of them settling on their planet, Gok’shinta invaded and conquered them. They’ve lived under their ... tyranny ever since.”

Darin noticed that she had a hard time using the word “tyranny,” almost as if it seemed alien to her. The cowboy captain listened intently.

“Have they fought back against them?” the man asked.

“Yes, many times throughout history ... all but failed. Unfortunately, the Helera’kun are not a powerful subclan. Even with their influence over the Hesik Expanse, they’ve never stood as a great power, but it’s also our strength as well. If there was a way to broadcast the videos that I saw to them, then maybe, the Helera’kun will rise up against the Shal’rein clan.”

Darin’s hand gestured in curiosity. “And how would that be done?” he asked. “I don’t suppose I can just take my ship to their planet and broadcast it, or would that be too easy?”

“Hmmm, no, it wouldn’t work. The entire satellite network would intercept your messages and prevent them from reaching the surface. A cloaked ship could possibly do it, but even if we slipped past them, the other systems in place would still block most of my signals...” She paused. “What’s your business in the Hesik Expanse, besides your crusade?”

Darin’s brow lifted. “I suppose if you brought up your personal life, then I don’t mind sharin a little bit about mine. But, I was figuring on checkin in with Denji’Kei.”

“Denji’Kei?” Veleshar thought about it for a second. “A small T’rintar world in that region? As I recall, there wouldn’t be much there.”

“It’s also where the missy comes from as well. I was thinkin of giving her a small surprise by going there.”

“Your mate? ... I see...” she smiled. “I doubt you would find much in the Hesik Expanse. Many of the stars there never had many worlds. What’s left is a heavy dust field, blinding to many sensors. Again, it’s why neither side really wants to fight there. But it’s something you can take advantage of. With so few resources there to protect it, even your ship has a fighting chance in there.”

“Fight against what, though?” Darin remarked. “What I need is a target ... something to shoot...”

“I don’t know much on that region, unfortunately, but I do know this. Many of our worlds, no matter how small, how insignificant it may be, there are countless places that are forgotten. We call the Hesik Expanse, the ‘Negh’La’Jik’Trea.’ In your language, it’s called ‘The Rusty Armpit’ one of many places where things are overlooked ... seemingly forgotten.”

“Hmmm ... What do they normally do to these types of regions anyway? Besides what you told me. It sounds like a giant ghost town to me, a lost frontier as the giant nations fight for scraps.”

Veleshar seemed to think about it. “It would very much be that. Much of the so-called ‘boundaries’ of the Itreans are outer worlds, small colonies, places away from the main fortress planets. Some Itreans prefer to live there, seeking greater seclusion from the great worlds, but they face their own risks. With less priority, less value in a world, the more likelihood the Itreans would give up in defending them against an all-out attack.”

“That would work in the reverse as well, I reckon...”

“It can be. Many times, attacking adjuncts will use the colonies as distractions in the main invasions. Over the last 5,000 years, most of the Itrean clans gained very little in their invasions, very little territorial gain. The attacks become mostly showpieces in a long era of constant war. But in a situation like yours, you are mostly alone and operating independently. The groups are tracked, where the lone hunter can still inflict damage. With that said, the Hesik Expanse, like most boundaries, consists of long-range tracking stations and comm relays. With the heavy layers of dust, the need to have them would be even more paramount.”

“Hmmm ... I doubt that blowing up these stations would achieve much in an area where there’s little activity.”

“No,” Veleshar shook her head. “But, if you were to capture one ... maybe...” She paused as she thought about it, as Darin was catching on to it. The man continued.

“Would it be possible to link into Kun’s networks with these satellite relays?”

“Most wouldn’t,” she replied. “They weren’t designed to be like that. But, sometimes ... we did have relay stations on worlds ... moons ... large asteroids. Some of these bases had older network connections that had been overlooked in their long years of usage. Security checks for these stations weren’t always updated for them, and I strongly doubt that the Helera’kun would have ever made any updates to them during the long-term usage of Hesik Expanse’s age. There would most certainly be a station or base that you could capture to make such a connection...”

“And from there, I could broadcast all of the T’rintar clan videos straight to the Kun homeworld.”

“They would see everything that I saw. Yes, Darin, I think it would work quite well for a plan, but...” She frowned a little bit. “Again, I don’t know too much about that region. You’re going to need to investigate it further, and the problem is that you need to speak to the Shal’rein there to get that information ... somebody that worked in the Hesik Expanse personally.”

“That could be a problem...”

Veleshar nodded her head. “I doubt that many T’rintar Shal’rein had any personal experience in this region to provide that information. But I can try to help you with something else. I’m giving you all the known data of the Hesik Expanse from not only the T’rintar clan, but also from Shal’rein clan sources as well. With this, you can try to pinpoint specific areas.”