First Contact

Chapter 757: The Inheritor's War

The biggest problem with the Mad Lemurs of Terra is that don't seem to want to do what everyone else wants them to do.

Of course, it seems like a lot of species just want them to die. - Musings Upon the Lemurs, Free Herd Press, Post Big-C3

The privacy lock telltales on the doorframe went from red to green a split second before the door opened with a low swishing noise.

A pair of nightmares walked through.

The larger one was 2.5 meters tall and a meter wide, 175 kilograms of muscle, bone, and internal organs designed to function even when heavily damaged. The shorter one was 2.1 meters tall and just shy of 200 kilograms, built the same way.

The larger one was male, with close set predator eyes, a nose like a bird of prey's beak, and a chin that could have made a good substitute for an anvil. His eyes were green and cold, his skin a lustrous brown, his hair black, coarse, and cut close to the skull. The other, the female, had long wavy platinum hair, had nearly 10% more body fat than the male, but looked firm rather than soft.

The male was dressed in thick animal hide, cured, engraved, and affixed with warsteel. Plates of warsteel were on his chest, shins, forearms, and across his thick shoulders, the warsteel layered with chrome that seemed to be tinged red.

The female worse skimpy clothing, exposing a wealth of firm brown flesh, tattoos covered her skin, many of them swirling savage patterns. Her hands hand a glowing nimbus of blue around them and light flickered under her skin.

The male held a piece of hand forged metal in his hands, the edge gleaming in the light.

They both stepped in as if they owned the room, looking around suspiciously. The male moved into the room first, the nails in the soles of his boots ripping at the carpet as he slowly prowled around the room, staring at each of the seated beings, all of which normally were secure and arrogant in their power and wealth.

The female made slow passes with her glowing hands, a gauzy, ethereal trail of energy left behind by the deliberate movements. She whispered quietly to herself even as she slowly looked over the room.

To the occupants of the room it was as if death itself entered the room.

Two of the beings in the room, who had never been in the presence of those that had entered, wet themselves at the sight of real live Mad Lemurs of Terra right in front of them.

The male sniffed suddenly, turning his head and looking first at one, then the other, that had wet themselves.

"Just urine," the female said. "Not precursor ingredients for a chemical attack."

"Hmph," the male snorted.

The male pointed at the people sitting in seats along the walls.

"Get out," the male said, speaking perfect Tnvaru. His accent made it sound like he was snarling.

The seated ones scrambled for the entrance.

"Not you," the female said, putting her arm in front of one Tnvaru male. "You are the creature in charge of the military here. You will stay."

The male Tnvaru swallowed thickly, his ears going back, and backed away from the female, the fur under his suit top going slick with sweat.

The male stared at the sole Tnvaru behind the desk.

The Tnvaru was early middle aged, his fur sleek and combed, expensive jewelry on his fingers and wrists and ears. His suit was expensive and well tailored.

He also only had one eye, the other covered with an eye patch.

"Her Ladyship is here to see her vassal," the male snarled. "You will attend her words or I will push your face through that ornate desk you squat behind."

The male Tnvaru nodded slowly, lifting his chin almost in defiance.

The Senior Executive Permanent Secretary of the Armed Forces for Life closed his eyes and swallowed.

He could still remember that massive male ripping a tire off of a vehicle and throwing it hard enough to bring down a LawSec grav-striker.

"It is clear, Milady," the male growled.

The door opened again and a young Tnvaru matron stepped through.

"Thank you, Magnus, Surscee," the Tnvaru matron said to the two nightmares.

Planetary Director for Life Namtotun looked Matron up and down slowly. She still wore leather and silk, still wore the bronze shoulder plates that were lit up with glowing runes, still carried a sword across her back, knives in her leather boots, and a pistol in a holster.

"Lady Nakteti," the Planetary Director said.

"Namtotun," Lady Nakteti said softly, moving slowly around the desk. She let the fingers of her catching hand trail along the hardwood surface.

The tension was thick in the office as Nakteti moved behind the Planetary Director for Life.

When she stepped past him, taking two steps to stand in front of the macroplas window, Namtotun breathed a sigh of relief.

Silence reigned for a long moment.

The Permanent Secretary had never been in the presence of any Mad Lemurs of Terra and he found that, as the minutes went by, being near them for a period of time didn't make them any less terrifying.

He could smell the malevolence rolling off of the male.

"I hear rumors, Namtotun," Lady Nakteti said, still staring at the window, watching the sun slowly set.

Namtotun said nothing.

"I hear rumors of a possible conscription of the Tnvaru people. Of forcing men and women, boys and girls, to join what will be the Tnvaru Planetary Guard and the Tnvaru military," Nakteti said softly.

Namtotun saw the Permanent Secretary's eyes get slightly wild.

"New identification cards, these ones with a new number," Nakteti said after a moment.

Silence reigned.

The Permanent Secretary looked, to Namtotun, like he wanted to vomint.

"A draft number," Nakteti said. She shook her head and placed one hand on the window. "The Confederacy is at war with a foe who will devour us all."

A security grav-striker floated by, the doors opened, displaying rotating miniguns that fired heavy ion bolts.

Namtotun silently cursed that whatever fool was on duty for the Director's Palace hadn't grounded those strikers. He saw the runes light up on the male's armor, saw him shift slightly. The female's eyes narrowed slightly and she twitched her fingers even as her lips parted.

Namtotun knew the female lemur was whispered command phrases, using her fingers to guide and command, extensive nanite systems that emulated magic.

"That you wish our people to assist with the war is admirable. There is no profit in it, nothing for you to steal, nothing for you to reach out with your catching hands and pull close to you. There is no additional power," Nakteti said softly.

There was silence.

After a moment she turned from the window, stepped up behind Namtotun, and put her gripping hands on his shoulders, squeezing tight.

The strength in her fingers made it so that it felt to Namtotun like steel rods were being pressed into his flesh.

"You show required viewing footage of the war beyond our system, the people are required to see the casualty lists, see which worlds burn from the fire of the Atrekna's greed, witness as worlds are liberated or defended," Nakteti said softly. "Every Tnvaru within your cities has bore unwilling witness to the horrors of the war."

The Permanent Secretary swallowed, glancing at Magnus and Serscee.

"So why, Namtotun, would you be considering conscripting the Tnvaru people to join the war?" Nakteti asked softly.

Namtotun sat still for a moment.

"The answer is complex," the Permanent Secretary started to say.

"I did not give you leave to speak," Nakteti said softly, still staring at the top of Namtotun's head. She looked up. "Speak again without permission and I will have Magnus tear your tongue out of your mouth and Serscee affix it to your forehead with an iron nail."

The Permanent Secretary shut up, quailing back. He looked at the female lemur and saw she was holding a cruel looking black iron nail between two fingers. A glance at the male and the male lemur flexed the powerful killing digits on his hands.

The Permanent Undersecretary struggled to keep the tears of fear at bay, unable to keep from shivering as he stared at those hands, which contained no pad, no softness.

"An impetuous for people to flee," Namtotun said, his voice steady as he looked at the Permanent Secretary and curled his lip with disgust. Namtotun knew not to show fear before the lemurs or Lady Nakteti.

That was the only way they would respect him, and over the last few years he had come to crave the respect of Nakteti and the lemurs like a drug.

"Planetary Defense is needed, volunteers have filled up the required manpower needed," Nakteti said. She caressed the side of Namtotun's head with her catching hand. "Why conscription?"

"Low risk low priority jobs," Namtotun said, trying to ignore how Matron Nakteti's touch excited him. "Not for the starships, not for the active fighting forces, but for paperwork, makework, disaster relief, other tasks the Planetary Guard may be assigned."

"Hmm," Nakteti said. She ran her fingers down the side of his face, reaching forward to gently tickle his whiskers.

"Conscription of known 'dissidents' often gives them the push they need to attempt to flee my rulership, the fear of conscription has a high probability of encouraging those who may pine for my iron stewardship to avoid the cities," Namtotun said. "The threat of conscription is used to keep in line the vultures and scavengers that hover around my office hoping for scraps to fall from my table."

Namtotun shivered as Nakteti's fingertips grazed his whiskers.

"The threat of sending their children, even themselves, off to fight in the war keeps them in line. A Tnvaru worried about whether or not his conscription notice will arrive even if I am eliminated will do his best to appease me," Namtotun said. "The threat of being conscripted is another method of populace control, so that the populace knows as long as they live beneath my will their lives are not their own."

"Hmm," Nakteti said again. Her hand moved up and traced underneath his eyepatch.

"It cannot be an empty threat. An empty threat is a sign of weakness and I know that weakness, even just the appearance of weakness, will mean someone will try to depose me," Namtotun said. "May even be foolish enough to try to assassinate me."

"There have been attempts on your life, yes," Nakteti said. She ran her fingertips across the cheek beneath the eyepatch. "Do they not understand that you too are merely a vassal who does my bidding?"

"They think they can do better at controlling you or negating your power than I have," Namtotun said. He cursed himself silently as his head tilted to rest his cheek in her hand, the movement involuntary. He gave a slow, deep sigh, and closed his eye for a moment. "Some have even gone so far as to plot against you, Milday."

"Yes, I know," Nakteti said. She gave the Permanent Secretary a grin full of sharp teeth. "I know of the plots, even those you were unaware of."

Her smile got wider.

"That is part of why I am here," Nakteti said. "There was attacks upon critical personnel of the government as recently as a year ago. All coordinated attacks, obviously planned, carried out by a person or persons unknown."

Namtotun nodded, opening his eye and staring at the Terran Serscee, who smiled warmly back.

"Twice I was forced to fall back on my blade to defend myself," Nakteti said softly. She caressed Namtotun's cheek again. "Of course, they were obviously not sent by you. Your personal guard put up a valiant defense of your retreat."

"Yes," Namtotun said, remembering that night of fire and fear when his personal mansion had been attacked by armored and armed assassins.

"The loss of your wife and your youngest children was an insult that brought me home from the Harmonous Empire early, just as my assassins intended," Nakteti said. "Your warning, your secret police, your sociopolice, your agents, were key in allowing me to defend myself."

She bent her head down and nuzzled between his ears. "Your loyalty was gratifying."

"I live to serve you, Milady," Namtotun said, closing his eye and shivering.

Nakteti looked up. "Bring those vermin back in," Nakteti snapped.

Serscee nodded, waving her hand over the sensor of the door.

The door whooshed open, revealing the previous gathering still huddled up in the middle of the secretary's office. The Tnvaru were all looking fearfully at the Terrans leaning against the doorjams, their arms folded over their chests.

"Get in here and sit down, vermin," Serscee ordered.

The Tnvaru filed in, flinching away from Magnus and Serscee. One by one they took their seats, looking nervously at Namtotun, Nakteti, and the two Terrans once the door had closed.

Nakteti stood and watched, her gripping hands on Namtotun's shoulders.

"They should witness this, Namtotun," Nakteti said softly, her catching hand coming up to caress his cheek again.

"Last night I was attacked again by those foolish enough to assault my fortress," Nakteti said. "They mistook the granite and warsteel for full primitivism."

"I was brought word," Nomtotun said, shivering as Nakteti's catching hands started rubbing his back. He closed his eye.

"The latest attempt on my life was by former Planetary Guard members, all acting under your orders," Nakteti said softly. "All of them hoping that they would be able to eliminate me before I could act upon the information that Tnvaru are being kidnapped and sold on the slave market. Under your orders to hide your vile crime against the Tnvaru people."

Namtotun swallowed but didn't open his eye.

"Or, at least, they thought they were operating under your orders."

She gave a sharp nod.

The Permanent Secretary managed to cry out as Magnus suddenly moved, taking three steps forward and grabbing the Permanent Secretary by the shoulder. Before anyone could react the large Terran stepped forward, to the armored macroplas window, and slammed the Permanent Secretary against the armored window.

"It was clever, attempting to frame you, Namtotun, for the attempt on my life," Nakteti said. She moved her hand up and gently stroked Namtotun's fur between his ears. "However, we took several of the would-be assassins alive."

The Permanent Secretary made a choking noise as Magnus pushed him against the armored glass.

Serscee made several sharp, curt motions. Stone creatures with claws and wings burst from the paint on the walls, grabbing four of the gathered officials who screamed as they were lifted out of their seats and slammed against the carpet. The creatures, which had appeared from the paint on the wall, leaving behind an unpainted patch, knelt on the back of the four Tnvaru.

The half dozen still seated just stared in shock.

"You have all mistook my benevolence for weakness," Nakteti said. "You mistook my reluctance to take Tnvaru lives as weakness rather than cold calculus of population and species survival."

Magnus pulled the Permanent Secretary back and slammed him against the macroplas again.

"You mistook my willingness to let the Devil rule in Hell for me being powerless to affect his servitors and minions," Nakteti said. "You thought that I would not find who was behind the plot, that I would not trace it back to you."

Nakteti stared at the still seated Tnvaru.

"You thought they wouldn't talk," she said.

Magnus pulled the stunned Permanent Secretary from the window and turned him around, still holding him up in the air with one hand. The Terran grabbed the Permanent Secretary's head and pulled it up.

"Witness," Magnus growled.

One of the ones on the floor started crying.

"I didn't do anything," another said.

"I was part of no plot," another wept.

Nakteti stared at the ones still seated.

"I protect all of the Tnvaru people," Nakteti said softly. "Those who plotted against me thought their minions would not talk."

Her grin got wider.

"They always talk."

The ones seated screamed as the nanites they had been breathing in, that coated their fur, that swarmed in their bloodstream, suddenly shredded their cells. The scream choked off as they began to melt.

Nakteti held Namtotun's head still, forcing him to watch.

The gurgling screams lasted for longer than they should have. Bone was exposed, internal organs ruptured, before the liquid bubbling squeals stopped.

The four on the floor lost control of their bladder and bowels as they heads were held up and they were forced to watch by the claws of the stone skinned winged creatures.

Magnus pulled the Permanent Secretary over to the middle on the floor, slamming him down and kicking his feet out from under him, forcing the Tnvaru to kneel.

"This male has stolen our people, stolen what it yours to treasure," Nakteti said softly to Namtotun. She reached down, took his hand, and lifted him gently from the chair. She kept speaking as she guided him around the desk. "My time in the Harmonous Empire taught me that the most precious possession we, as rulers, possess is our people."

She stopped next to the Permanent Secretary.

"The Mechlords of Terra fight to protect their people, to keep war from them. They spend their entire lives training or fighting," Nakteti said. She let go of Namtotun's hand and squatted slightly, drawing a heavy knife from her boot.

Namtotun noted it had his sigil on the blade.

"I forged this, with my own hands, from metal taken from the equipment of the assassins," Nakteti said softly. She pressed the blade into Namtotun's hands.

"This male has stolen from us, Namtotun," she said. "Taken Tnvaru from their homes, used their conscription number to lure them in and then taken them, to sell them on a slave market."

The Permanent Secretary whimpered and tried to wiggle but Magnus put his knee between the Tnvaru's shoulders and pulled him backward, arcing his back, lifting his head.

The four on the floor wept.

"You know what to do, Namtotun," Nakteti said.

Namtotun nodded.

The blade flashed and the Permanent Secretary shook and struggled as the blood sprayed far enough to splatter on the wall.

Nakteti watched with cold eyes until the Permanent Secretary was dead.