CHAPTER 31

Grand Admiral Khandar established the etherlink with the Alliance Council from his conference room. He was alone, and he initially expected the discussion to be with Pro Consul Mavek alone. When the full Council appeared on his screen he was surprised, but not dismayed. For his part Khandar thought he recognized the purpose of the Pro Consul as simple political savvy, and he could appreciate that. He did in fact welcome the opportunity, for although he considered it a more difficult task to convince the entire Council, it was also more likely to succeed. Ignorant of the private purposes of the members Khandar assumed he could never win more than half hearted support from Mavek, whom he took for a cautious and uninspiring leader. The prospects of Mavek selling her colleagues on their necessity of Khandar's plan was well nigh impossible. More to the point Khandar felt time slipping away. In his observations Alexander was proven to be as astute in political matters as he was in war. What Khandar now expected out of the Terran Overlord was unnerving to the Golkos cause, and thus, his own. What would follow was another stroke by Alexander to break up the Alliance: an offer for a diplomatic settlement between Terra and the Alliance states. The consequences of such an offer, especially under magnanimous terms, was not difficult to contemplate. It would mean the complete isolation of Golkos with the Golkos fleet left hanging in hostile space. Khandar’s hope, his only hope, now lay in a swift decision to continue the strike on Terra. If that could be accomplished possibly, just possibly, his political allies on Golkos could delay any Alliance decision on Alexander’s offer until Khandar’s attack on Terra. With a victory over Alexander in his own system the Grand Admiral might be able to avert disaster. Therefore, it was a grim but determined Khandar of Golkos who appeared on the etherlink before the Alliance Council.

“The Alliance Council greets you in grave times, Grand Admiral,” Kvel Mavek opened sternly. “With the fall of Syraptose and Quotterim the Alliance military offensive against Terra has lost two of its three invasion fronts. The surprise attacks by Alexander’s fleets on our allies have spread fear amongst our citizens. We prepared for a war fought in Terran space, not our own. Now, however, we face the prospect that those same fleets which brought Syraptose and Quotterim to their knees will suddenly appear in orbit about our other Homeworlds. Our capitals are in turmoil; our populace demands a response. As the leaders of our worlds we must reply. Our question to you, Grand Admiral is simple: can we afford to continue this offensive against Alexander and Terra, or is it time to investigate other options? Either way, Grand Admiral, make no mistake about it; the intention of this Council is to bring this conflict to a close.”

“That is my intention as well, Madame Pro Consul,” Khandar told her, and he paced the confines of his chamber, as if giving a lecture. “First let me remind you that the scope of my vision is limited to that of the military situation, which is not as dark as you might think. Also let me remind you that it is the Alliance which began this conflict. It is not so easy to end a war as to begin it, and as the aggressor we would bear the brunt of an overhasty surrender.” Khandar turned the full bearing of his personality into his steely eyes, glaring at the politicians. His voice was resonant, demanding their full attention. “You wish to end this, but what reason do we give Alexander to treat with us should we end this offensive? If we withdraw to the defense of our Homeworlds we are left in a piecemeal posture, subject to the full weight of his fleets one world at a time. Is that not what we feared in the first place? Is that not the very consideration which brought this Alliance together?”

“Your point is well taken, Grand Admiral,” Kvel Mavek interjected, avek in.but we are dealing with the present situation. What hope has our offensive now that two-thirds of its forces have withdrawn from the field?”

“The Quotterim and the Syraptose have played their parts, Madame Pro Consul, and played them well,” Khandar informed her. “I admit that Alexander’s boldness surpassed my expectations, and that I never thought our confederates would suffer more than a sound defeat and withdrawal, but what of it? They were meant to divide and divert Alexander’s forces, and they have accomplished that. Indeed, they have accomplished that in far greater measure than I could have hoped. Now Alexander’s two far flung fleets are deep in our confederate’s space, not on the frontiers. They have that much farther to go before they can return to the defense of Terra or strike our own Homeworlds.”

“That is not entirely true, Grand Admiral,” the Bael representative corrected, explaining, “either of Alexander’s fleets can strike Bael in a matter of decurns. There are no forces of Bael or the Alliance which can prevent that. Such is the case for five out of the remaining eight Alliance members. How do we plan to address that issue?”

“With all due respects I do not think we need to, Councilor,” the Grand Admiral said simply. He began pacing again, but continued his line of reasoning quickly in order to forego the expected, and understandable, objections by the Alliance member states at risk. “I ask you to look at the situation through Alexander’s eyes. The Bael are a noble people, and definitely a worthy addition to Alexander’s empire, but he has no need to attack them now. Why should he waste forces in conquest of Bael, or any of our other brethren in the civilized galaxy, if they do not have the capacity to resist his fleets in the first place? No, Alexander is cunning. He will wait. He will seek out and destroy the major threats to his dominion and then allow all others to fall neatly into place. Therefore, Alexander will come to Seer, and to Golkos. When those worlds have fallen the Bael shall have reason to fear Alexander’s fleets, not before.” Khandar stopped again, hesitating until the silence became palpable. None interrupted him. No one had any suggestion or question which would clarify their course. The Council slipped into the apathy of the observer, disconnected from events, and looking to simply hang on to the tidal wave which swept over them. It was exactly the mood Khandar wished for, and he pounced on it. “The only way out of this is to persevere, together, to the full intent of our original plan. The Terrans cannot halt our advance on their Homeworld, and I do not think the y have the forces necessary to defeat us. If we can agree to a few decands of patience I shall take Terra and force a peace on Alexander; a peace on our terms! That is how this war shall end!”

There was a somber silence on the other end of the etherlink. The Councilors queried each other in low monotone voices for only a moment, and then Mavek looked across the vastness of space and said simply, “You have our best wishes Grand Admiral.” The ethernet then went dark.

Khandar stood glowering at the blank wall of the chamber. He was now completely alone with his thoughts, with no one, not even Admiral S’kreen to play the devil’s advocate. He needed no one, as there was not a being in the fleet, or within all the Alliance who did not realize the knife’s edge his world stood upon. He dimmed the lights to reflect his mood, and set out once again pacing the length of the chamber. To anyone listening his voice would have been an inaudible whisper, something felt not heard. To Khandar, however, it was a booming trumpet of thunder; at once invigorating and terrifying.

“I can now resolve myself to an immortal coup: the taking of Alexander’s world, the near mythical Terra! Whatever the outcome of this war that shall be my legacy! Whether we stand or fall shall be of little consequence to history, but that Alexander could not meet my strength in the defense of his own will be a black mark upon his memory and a shining medallion on my own! Yet what after? Do not the victors write history? I myself doubt the very tenet of my strategy: to bring Alexander to the bargaining table with Terra as the balance. Will Alexander concede to peace and so leave this blight on his record uncontested? Never! He would not be remembered as such. Yet would Alexander leave his own world open to bitter defeat; subject to rape and slaughter without his own presence in defense? I find that equally difficult to believe. What then of Alexander, for that is truly the key of this tantalizing puzzle.”

Khandar thought in silence, pacing the darkened deck until with a sudden revelation, he stopped. The answer struck him and his eyes glowed a greedy red. “He must defend his own! That is his code, his badge of honor. Yet when all is lost in battle the wise general preserves what he can and withdraws to revenge another day. Has he not already accomplished so difficult a battle in his past lives? Alexander is wise and would not throw his life away with Terra’s future, not when he can bleed us white and then turn and rend us with his other fleets. When battle is met, however, it is not always so easy to withdraw. If we strike hard and fast enough then boldness may win the day. To kill or capture Alexander, ah, that is the true prize at Terra. If the fortunes of war shine upon me so brightly as to deliver him to that battlefield I shall smite him! Then shall I bring Alexander the Conqueror to Golkos in chains, to my world’s adulation and my everlasting glory!”