Chapter 16

“Frohmire was a suicide mission,” Reseila announced. She was sitting across the desk from Kipexo in the room where he’d recorded his transmissions to the Raugon people. “I knew that before we landed, but, like you, I’d spent my entire life in the military. Disobeying an order wasn’t an option. It didn’t matter that the Lifreet were embedded in that cursed swamp and surrounded by the most advanced defense grid we’d ever seen, command said to take back the planet, so I set out to do just that.

“You’ve no doubt heard the tale told a dozen different ways. How my men and I broke off from the main conflict, how we marched for ten days to find our way through the Lifreet’s defenses, and how, despite the swamp’s physical affects on a Raugon’s mind and body, we managed to infiltrate and disable the Lifreet’s defense grid. That was the most popular version, the one I and my team corroborate.” Reseila linked her hands and set them on the table in front of her. She breathed deep and let it out slowly as she eyed Kipexo with determination. “Allow me to tell you the true story of what happened on that planet.

“Frohmire is not suitable for Raugon life. The air is full of gases produced by the wetlands that dominate most of the planet’s land. The Lifreet can breathe these fumes, which is why they were able to move in and capture the planet away from us so quickly and why it took us so long to get it back. My team and I landed with the rest of the forces sent to capture the Lifreet’s main stronghold, their commanding base. It was built right into one of the harshest, wettest bogs on the planet, and thus it was the most toxic to our kind. Gas masks were mandatory, and every soldier had one, but the Lifreet knew the effects the land had on us, and they were prepared.

“The Lifreet forces in the base were using a special kind of arrows, and it didn’t take long to realize they weren’t hitting a single one of our soldiers but firing at their feet. The arrows then exploded, sending out hundreds of metal shards that weren’t enough to pierce our armor but were just enough to poke holes in the hoses and filters of our masks. Slowly but surely, our forces were overcome by the bog’s gases as the masks failed. The results weren’t fatal, but they were debilitating. My team and I found cover, and we thought we’d made it without our equipment being compromised, but by the time I realized I had a leak in my own mask, three of my men were already overcome.

“The gases of Frohmire’s swamps cause nausea, vomiting, and migraines, but the most debilitating symptoms are the hallucinations. I don’t know what images my men saw, they never mention it and I can’t bring myself to ask, but for me, I was back on the front lines and the Lifreet were retreating. The walls of their compound were breached, and I charged ahead, shouting for our forces to follow me into the base. I don’t remember much else after that until I woke up several days later in a cell.

“When I ran, my men who were still of sound mind followed me, not realizing I was charging at ghosts. The Lifreet who found us sometime later recognized my rank on my armor. They captured me and my team, even the ones wandering blindly in the swamp. I was brought into the base, to a room that was sealed against the planet’s gases. I thought they meant to interrogate me, but, not a day later, Sovereign Luxtetana arrived and introduced himself.”

The sovereign bowed his head from where he stood a short distance away. “I made the same plea to the Major that I made to the Commander when we met: help me stop the bleeding. We talked, we shared, and we understood each other.”

“I’d already had my doubts about this war,” Reseila explained. “But I never dared voice them. I often asked myself if there would ever be an end or if the Lifreet and the Raugon would kill each other forever or until one race was wiped out entirely. Luxtetana had only just become the new Lifreet sovereign, and I saw the opportunity he was offering me. It took time. Even with my own doubts, I wasn’t the easiest to persuade, but in the end, I agreed to help the Lifreet end their war with our people.

“We came up with a plan. I knew Chief Jero was due to retire soon, and there was already talk about who should be the one to take his place in the Veil, so we decided to give me a leg up against the competition. Sovereign Luxtetana ordered his people to withdraw from Frohmire and made it look like the main base had been sabotaged by my hand. My men were none the wiser as they were kept separate from me during our stay in the base.

“Rather than admit we were captured, I told my team to simply say we’d spent the ten days we were in Lifreet hands observing and studying the base for weaknesses and that we eventually infiltrated it. My men were loyal to me above all others and agreed to stick to my version of events. As far as they know, I escaped custody during one of my interrogations and disabled the Lifreet defense grid, allowing what was left of our forces into the base. The Lifreet had already withdrawn to safety by the time the Raugon soldiers overwhelmed the compound, but no one seemed to question the lack of Lifreet casualties. The rest of the planet was soon abandoned by the Lifreet entirely, and that victory went entirely to me, just as Luxtetana and I planned.”

Kipexo was caught somewhere between horror and awe at the tale. The utter betrayal on Reseila’s part to collaborate with the enemy to infiltrate their highest ranks would’ve made his blood boil not so long ago, but knowing everything he did now, he was more amazed at the sheer brilliance of the plan than anything.

“What would have happened if you didn’t get to promotion?” Ethan asked. He was sitting beside Kipexo, who had given the Earthling free reign to speak during this meeting as Kipexo’s equal.

“We had several contingency plans,” Reseila replied. “Thankfully, we didn’t need them since me becoming a Chief was by far the best way for us to move forward in organizing a peace treaty.”

“Knowing all of this,” Kipexo said, “I have a sneaking suspicion my involvement in all of this wasn’t just some happy coincidence.”

Reseila grinned. “Your suspicions are correct, Kipexo. I tipped off the Lifreet about your departure from Raug as well as the Anamafrid’s condition before its hyperjump. I knew where you were headed and that you had no direct hyperjump coordinates for the human homeworld, and by witness accounts and footage from the battlecruisers that fired on your ship, I knew the Anamafrid would most likely require repairs in order to make the trip. It was impossible to know for certain where your captain friend would have jumped to after leaving Raug, but Reethis is a creature of habit, so I made some best guesses. I gave all of this information to the Lifreet myself and told them to find you at all costs.”

“Why me?” Kipexo asked.

Reseila looked at Ethan then back at Kipexo. “The day you stood before the Veil and defended those who could not defend themselves told me you were one we could trust. The fact that you refused to give us the location of the runaway humans no matter what it might cost you said you were as loyal to those you cared about as I was to this cause. Your reputation as a soldier could rival mine, so I knew you’d have the influence we needed to make a difference. I trusted you to listen, learn, and see the truth of this war as I did. And you didn’t disappoint.”

Ethan crossed his arms. “If you wanted our help so badly, why didn’t you warn us or intervene when the Veil sent those ships to attack us?”

Kipexo raised his brows at Reseila and waited for her answer.

“The Veil had no hand in the attack on your ship at the port,” she said. “Vesvon acted on his own without clearance from us and ignored a direct order to cease fire on your ship. He’s been dismissed as a result.”

“Vesvon is no longer a chief?” Kipexo asked in shock.

“That’s correct. The rest of us, even the ones who voted against you at your hearing, saw nothing to gain by killing you and the escaping humans. Despite the many violations in your departure, you did not pose a threat. We all knew why you were leaving and where you were going. Vesvon, unfortunately, held a grudge that kept him from seeing sense, and it cost him dearly. Last I heard, he and his family were moving to another city in hopes of starting over, but we’ve made it clear Vesvon is to never hold a political title again, no matter where he goes.”

“Good riddance,” Ethan said.

Reseila nodded in agreement. “I’m glad you were all able to get away. I worried your ship would strand you in deep space.”

“It did,” said Kipexo. “But the Lifreet were already on our tails by that point. Political agendas aside, you saved our lives.” He put an arm around Ethan’s shoulders. “Thank you.”

Reseila nodded. “Well then… should we start discussing conditions for a permanent ceasefire? We’ll need to decide which planets will become Lifreet territory and which they will turn over to us. We’ll also need to establish trade routes, protocols for conflict, shared space travel procedures, and timelines for the evacuation of invaded territories. I have to report regularly to the Veil and receive their feedback for every detail.”

Kipexo sighed softly.

Reseila laughed. “Get comfortable, Kipexo. We’re going to be here a while.”

*****

At the end of their first day of negotiations, Kipexo didn’t feel like much had been resolved at all, but Reseila and Sovereign Luxtetana both seemed pleased with the little progress that had been made. They all agreed to meet again the following day to resume their discussions. Kipexo and Ethan accompanied Reseila back to the walkway where her shuttle and guards were waiting to take her back to her ship for the evening.

“The doctor who oversaw your active duty status,” Reseila said as they walked, “is it safe to assume she’s here with you?”

“Grolpre?” Kipexo asked nonchalantly. “Haven’t seen her.”

“Everything you tell me is confidential unless we agree otherwise, Kipexo.”

Kipexo grunted. “She’s here. So is her Earthling.”

“She has an Earthling?”

“The one we rescued from the HRRA. He was to be euthanized.”

“I remember. That’s good. That Grolpre came with you, I mean. Vesvon had her deactivated in our systems before we dismissed him. I’m working to have her reinstated. I’m hopeful that, once we work all this out, she might come back and take Vesvon’s place at the hospital until a new member of the Veil can be appointed.”

“I’ll ask her, but I doubt she’ll be interested. She goes where her Earthling goes, and Sam wants nothing to do with Raug.”

“What about the doctor who stole the files from the HRRA and rescued the human?”

“Vroft. Yeah, he’s here too. He’d probably be a lot more interested in that position than Grolpre, if you want my input on the matter.”

“Interesting. I’ll look into his credentials.” Reseila cleared her throat. “There have been some… rumors regarding Lihana and her Earthling from the HRRA ads, Andrew. So much of Lihana’s work was kept confidential and was destroyed before we could gain access to the HRRA’s buildings and files. It seems she had several failsafes in place to make sure her records never fell into the wrong hands. People, on the other hand, they see things and they talk. We’ve heard whispers of a child, some sort of experiment Lihana was attempting. Apparently, she wanted to prove humans and Raugon could breed. Do you know anything about that?”

They’d reached the walkway, so Kipexo stopped walking and faced Reseila. “What are you really asking?”

Reseila sighed. “Was there a child? Did Andrew escape with you? I assume he did since he went missing the same night you all left. I won’t say anything unless I have to, but if there is a child, I want to know it’s safe. Lihana’s body was mutilated. Please tell me it was for a good reason.”

Kipexo looked at Ethan.

Ethan looked up at Kipexo and nodded.

“Lihana and a team of doctors forced Andrew to help her bear a half-human, half-Raugon child,” Kipexo explained. “Lihana suspected Andrew knew where the runaway humans were located, so she kept him prisoner and refused him food, showers, and rest for an extended period of time while she interrogated him. The night we left, he killed her and cut their child out of her. The child lived and joined her father aboard the Anamafrid with us. She’s healthy and well-tended.”

Reseila shook her head grimly. “My suspicions were correct then. That makes what Vesvon did even worse since there was a child aboard your ship. What plans do you have for her future?”

“Those aren’t my plans to make. Andrew is parenting the child. I assume she will go with him to Earth.”

Reseila frowned. “Are you sure that’s wise? The humans on Earth likely despise our kind, and for good reason. What kind of life would she have there?”

“Like I said, the decision isn’t up to me. Andrew is the child’s father. He will see to her future, as is his right.”

Reseila didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t argue. “I will inform the Veil of the circumstances behind Lihana’s death. Since she kept her Earthling captive and mistreated him, as you say, it should be considered an act of self-defense. I’ll leave any mention of the child out of it and deny any knowledge of her if I’m asked directly. I’ll also see that Andrew is cleared of any guilt in our records, though I doubt that matters since I don’t expect he’ll be returning to Raug.”

Ethan laughed. “Never.”

She nodded and held out her hand to Kipexo. “Until tomorrow.”

Kipexo shook her hand. “Sleep well.”