The Index -|-

Kpleeb yawned and stretched before swinging his hairy feet over the side of his sleeping sling. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and tapped his console to display the fleet’s status.

[Fourteen hours.]

The map showed that the closest Xi orb with a terminal, Iriop, was close after a long and tiresome journey. Kpleeb stretched again, this time standing and bending at the waist. Sleeping in a Xi sling caused his spine to ache, and he was irritable because of it.

[Almost five months stuck inside this bucket is far too much. I can’t live like this!]

He poked his belly and grimaced. “I need to spend more time practicing with the warriors.” With a shake of his head, he tapped his console again to contact Zara.

“Greetings, pater-unit,” said Zara with a smile. Her curly, brown hair shaking as she turned toward his view.

“Pater-unit?”

Zara laughed. “It’s a joke. Kanta was telling me a story from her childhood, and her Da was named Pater, and… well anyways. It’s just a joke.”

Kpleeb nodded and chose to move on. “Did you see that we are finally nearing Iriop? I was thinking that we need to start using the terminals. The travel time is just too long.”

Zara nodded. “Da, I’ve consulted the Xih viewer triangle, and I see a number of objects near Iriop. They might be Xi ships. We need to prepare to attack the moment we can. We can see them first, but they will also see us as we draw near.”

Kpleeb thought for a moment. “Have the two newer ships completed their kerflk shell?”

Zara nodded. “Yes, both are covered. It’s a slow process.”

“It’s a slow trip,” Kpleeb complained. “If we used the terminals in the future, we would instantly arrive and regain the element of surprise. The Xi would also be able to surprise us, but we can work on a strategy for that.”

“I’ve had a conversation with Oiitr about the terminals and learned some things. I will need to spend some time near a terminal to determine if there is some way I can tap into the slipnet. Perhaps we can use the terminal closest to Iriop?”

“Yes, maybe. We also need to decide how we retrieve and repair more of the Xi ships.” Kpleeb shrugged. “With the terminal nearest Jorqu destroyed, it will take too much time to bring ships there to repair and train the Ganix before they join the fleet.”

“Da, we need a safe place to do this. You’re right though. Perhaps we can find a place on Iriop that will be suitable for repairing ships. We need to focus on this cluster of vessels at Iriop for now.”

“Do you think we should change our course and avoid them? I think with kerflk and our numbers, we have the upper hand.”

After a long moment Zara replied. It is concerning, but we should be able to win. Anyway, with the terminal at their disposal, they can easily be waiting at any of the other orbs if we change course. For now, they are not prepared for us, but the more we fight the Xi and they learn our ways, the more our advantage will dwindle.”

Kpleeb nodded. “It’s settled then.”

###

“Huwt, fire as quickly as possible!” Kpleeb bellowed. The floor of the Greki’s command center buckled under him, and he staggered and held onto one of the slings with a death-grip.

The Ganix warrior Zara had assigned as Greki’s gunner did not reply, but Kpleeb saw his fingers rapidly manipulating the controls. Bolt after bolt of twisted blue fire was emitted and sped toward the largest of the Xi XC-class vessels. The Greki shuddered again, and a thin, acrid smoke began to emanate from under one of the red-tiered devices.

“Oiitr. We will die if you do not avoid these attacks.” Kpleeb’s forehead broke out in a sweat. He eyed the internal sensors and shook his head.

“Yes, Builder,” said Oiitr. “The engines are slow to respond because most of the power is used by the weapon systems. The XC-class ship is now disabled and drifting.”

Kpleeb bared his teeth. [The kerflk has finally killed its engines.]

Ahead of the Greki on the far side of the largest Xi ship, Kpleeb could see a vortex of the smaller, XF-class ships rapidly spewing bolts at each other. He tapped to zoom and saw that there were in fact four Xi ships and two of Kpleeb’s that were easily recognized by the kerflk that covered their hulls. One of his own, the Haartik, was venting atmosphere into the void while valiantly dodging all that it could.

[Haartik was captured at Liret. This crew is still inexperienced.] He sighed. [You must survive!]

The vortex broke apart as the Haartik responded to a flurry of bolts by exploding violently into pieces. The other kerflk covered ship fired upon one of the Xi ships, causing it to impact its nearest neighbor and spin away from the group engulfed in flames where oxygen vented from a puncture in its hull. In a moment, it too broke apart, and its neighbor also spun through a hail of blue bolts and disintegrated.

Huwt barked a Ganix curse and slapped his console in a surprising show of emotion. “Need faster!”

The large XC-class Xi ship began to crumble under a hail of weapon-fire as its engines failed to provide any ability to avoid the onslaught. “We must keep our distance!” Kpleeb was thrown backward into the nearest red-tiered device, and he felt a sharp pain. The Greki’s display flickered as it attempted to reduce the instantly bright glare of the XC’s demise. “Maintain focus!” he commanded. “We are not done yet.”

“There is just one Xi ship left, Da,” came Zara’s voice over the comms. “Please help. The Hsstak is unable to fire at this time.”

Kpleeb stood carefully holding his side that burned with a dull, throbbing pain. “We are still fighting. Huwt, target that remaining ship!”

The Greki turned over on its back and pursued the final Xi ship. It appeared to be trying to putting Iriop between it and Kpleeb’s fleet. “All ships, target that XF with kerflk and bolts.” It must not be allowed to escape.”

After a short flurry of attacks, the final Xi ship was destroyed, and Kpleeb began to take stock of his fleet.

Later he addressed his fleet solemnly via broadcast. “We lost four ships and many of our companions. The Jiti with my Hkkli friend, Nairo and his crew, Haartik with Kiz and his warriors, Giuk with Kopi and his warriors, and Jelit with Roaty and his crew. They will be missed, and… I promise that we will learn from this fight. The Xi will pay for what they’ve done. For now, the Greki will go to the orb and destroy their communication hubs.”

Two hours later, Zara called Kpleeb and her face was bruised. “Da, were there any extra ships on Iriop?”

Kpleeb shook his head. “None. I think they had launched all that they had and brought even more via the terminal. How could they know we were going to Iriop? Are you sure they cannot see us from a great distance? And what happened to your face?!”

Zara shook her head. “It’s nothing. The Hsstak was hit quite badly, and I fell. I am fairly certain the Xi cannot see us coming. The only thing that makes sense is that we targeted the nearest orb with a terminal, and they were able to predict this.”

“Well, I didn’t want to spend another month on the ship,” Kpleeb grumbled angrily.

“Me neither, Da. If we start using the terminals instead, we will have quicker travel, and our destination will be less obvious. I expect that the Xi have been informed of our success and will send another fleet here soon. We should leave as soon as the ships are repaired.

Kpleeb nodded thoughtfully. “Oiitr showed me the map, and there are three terminals within reach. I have chosen Wieh as our destination because I think Giale would be where the Xi would expect us to go. There we will stop and analyze the terminal and repair our ships as best as we can.”

Zara nodded thoughtfully.

“By the way, Zara. Do you think I should dress differently when going to visit the Iteek?”

“Uh,” said Zara with a confused look on her face.

“You know, like a ceremonial robe or something that shows my position as a leader.”

“I don’t know, Da. Why?”

Kpleeb grimaced and pushed his shaggy hair away from his face. “I- I feel like the Xi leaders look down on me. They clearly do not respect me.”

“You are alien to them. The Xi can’t help but see you as a slave. Dressing differently won’t make any difference. Only actions will convince them to respect you.”

“I suppose you’re right. You are wise for your age, my dear. Thank you. Let’s go toward Wieh now.” Kpleeb disconnected and issued the order to travel to the terminal nearest Wieh and they were under way.

[My girl is right. The Xi know nothing except action. They know me as nothing except a slave. They come to kill no matter that I saved their people on Liret. They’ve done nothing but destroy and steal and harm. The only way to stop them is to do the same.]