30 - Cazz-ak-tak

Cazz-ak-tak felt the star go supernova. The Great Thought sensed it through him. A cascade of sorrow and mourning swept across the hive mind, its intensity staggering. The Entho-la-ah-mine’s had known of their home system’s fragility. The larger star's greed for the matter of its binary companion had been a subject of scientific discussion for quite some time.

To Cazz-ak, the impending loss of Haak-ah-tar felt like a condemnation to extinction. They had brought forth the new queen, but that only ensured the species' continued existence until she perished. We fought so hard to birth the new Queen. Now it is all for nothing. Our victory has merely staved off the inevitable. The Great Thought’s depression and anxiety deepened as more people realized the situation’s meaning.

With the loss of the crystals and the cave that contained them, there was no way to bring forth a new queen. Perhaps the cave might survive the shock wave, but the scientists weren't optimistic. It was a small consolation that the humans would be driven off the planet.

Even if the cave is destroyed, I will do my best to keep the Queen alive, Cazz-ak thought. We must not give up hope. I will not let the sacrifice of our escort vessels be wasted. The humans had destroyed every single support ship that had come with him to Haak-ah-tar. The other vessels had done everything possible to distract the humans so Cazz-ak's mission could succeed. Now, Cazz-ak's ship was alone, fleeing a dying star. I wish their sacrifice hadn't been required, he thought, mourning.

Cazz-ak mentally sent a course adjustment, and the huge bi-pyramidal ship changed course slightly. He hoped it would bring them to distortion clearance distance a little faster than before. Hundreds of ships, large and small, fled with them, trying to get to escape the shock wave. Cazz-ak wasn't worried about most of them. Many are the type humans use for utility and transport. One of the other evacuees was making him nervous, however.

The battle cruiser following close behind could easily obliterate them. That one destroyed several of our decoy ships, has killed so many of my people, Cazz-ak thought, seeing images of the human vessel through dying Entho-la-ah-mine eyes. So far the battleship hadn't threatened them and was simply fleeing like everyone else. Cazz-ak hoped they would continue that way. Perhaps we will all choose different paths once we reached the distortion area. If the humans attacked, it would likely mean the complete destruction of his ship and crew, either from their weapons or from the impending shock wave.

Cazz-ak could feel the prevailing emotion on the command deck was one of guarded optimism though. Since the humans had yet to attack, everyone hoped they would continue to desire only escape and forget about the Entho-la-ah-mine ship.

Elth-eo-lan stood next to Cazz-ak, the new Queen beside her. She sent out gentle, calming messages to both Cazz-ak and the new Queen. He was glad to have her there, her comforts needed in this stressful situation. The Queen was eager to explore her surroundings, the newly formed connection to the Great Thought creating hunger for information and knowledge. She asked many questions of Elth-eo-lan. The guardian was doing her best to answer, despite the myriad distractions. Cazz-ak hoped the young queen's birth into the midst of war and turmoil wouldn't taint the naturally gentle and peaceful nature that was the species’ archetype.

When the Entho-la-ah-mine ship finally made it to the distortion area, Cazz-ak immediately set his Hax-ax-ons to the task of generating the warp. The unified force began encouraging the space to condense and fold, to warp and stretch, to form a tunnel. As they worked, Cazz-ak tried to think of the best place to go. He didn't want to lead the pursuing battle cruiser back to an Entho-la-ah-mine home world, and the lack of safe places in the galaxy left few options. The time was drawing near for him to specify the distortion’s end point, but he was unable to think of an acceptable answer.

I don’t know what to do, he thought, desperation threatening to overwhelm him. Then, a stray thought lodged in his mind. Not a thought of his own, but from outside him, from beyond the Entho-la-ah-mines and the Great Thought all together.

“We will be safe at Eishon-2,” it said, hopeful, positive. Cazz-ak saw lush forests and gently rolling hills. A small human contingent inhabited the place, but they were friendly, kind in heart and peaceful. Under all the images ran a current of serenity and safety. Cazz-ak couldn't tell who was projecting these images, but he could feel the person somewhere nearby. A human.

If Cazz-ak delayed any longer, the distortion would be incomplete and the Entho-la-ah-mine ship would disappear into non-existence. With no time left to consider, Cazz-ak passed on the images of the lush landscape and peaceful people to his Hax-ax-ons. They took the information, using it to carefully manipulate the distortion. With mere seconds to spare, they flew into the newly formed path between Haak-ah-tar and Eishon.

Before Cazz-ak could close the distortion behind them, the human battle cruiser entered it. If we smooth it now, we sentence the humans to timelessness. Cazz-ak knew letting the human ship follow posed a monumental risk, but he could not order his crew to doom the humans that way, even if they had killed so many Entho-la-ah-mines. They had not attacked his vessel yet. Perhaps they want peace. “Smooth the distortion as soon as the human ship is through,” he directed.

The battle cruiser cleared the distortion a moment later, and his crew began closing it. Just as they set the process in motion, however, another human craft darted into the pathway. We can do nothing for them. No way to stop it now. Cazz-ak, through the eyes of his crew, looked back at the doomed vessel. It was small and decrepit, hull pitted, and obviously in need of repair. Cazz-ak’s knowledge of human ships was limited, but this was the worst one he’d ever seen. It surprised him it was still capable of flight.

They aren't moving fast enough, Cazz-ak thought, sad it was at least partially his fault for what the humans were about to experience. To his surprise, the small ship managed to stay ahead of the quickly dissolving pathway. As he watched, the decrepit vessel shot out of the distortion just as the end unfolded and disappeared.

Cazz-ak and his entire crew felt relieved, happy they were not responsible for loss of life. The joy was short-lived, however.

It’s turning, Cazz-ak thought, watching the battle cruiser move on a heading he knew meant impeding attack. Beside him, Elth-eo-lan grew nervous, her stream of comforting thoughts interrupted. The new Queen, rather than being frightened, grew more interested and exhilarated by this development.

Cazz-ak, along with Elth-eo-lan and the entire crew, knew their lives were nothing compared to that of the new Queen. With the elimination of the crystal temple on Haak-ah-tar, it was even more imperative they keep her alive. If our species is to have any hope, her health must be preserved.

Knowing he had no other choice, Cazz-ak, through his Hax-ax-ons, began to lay the foundation for the newly developed Entho-la-ah-mine weapon. He was reluctant, but the humans were forcing him. He gathered strands of the Great Thought, using the Hax-ax-ons to magnify his strength. Cazz-ak could feel the entire Entho-la-ah-mine species watching the situation unfold. Every individual in the galaxy stopped what they were doing, adding their concentration to the effort.

The battle cruiser continued drawing closer and closer. We will soon be within range of the metal throwing weaponry. This was not his first time in this situation, but he had the sinking feeling it might be his last. It easily destroyed our diversion ships on Haak-ah-tar. The Entho-la-ah-mine weapon had never been used on a ship of this size. Will we even have enough power to damage it? The opposing ship grew larger and larger, and Cazz-ak's optimism for bringing the Queen through the engagement shrank proportionally.

He redoubled his efforts, gathering strands of power in the Great Thought, his Hax-ax-ons doing all they could to help. He wove the fibers together, the thread growing from a string to a rope, then to a cable. Cazz-ak knew, at any moment, the human ship would be within range to use its weapons. I’m working as fast as I can! If he attacked too soon, it would be ineffective, and he would have to start over.

In the next instant, the battle cruiser fired. Bright trails of color streaked towards them, signaling death. The sight was as beautiful as it was fatal.

Quickly melding the many strands of Great Thought together, Cazz-ak formed a rod. He carefully folded the rod back onto itself several times, creating a gigantic shard of mental energy. Once he’d formed it properly, Cazz-ak took a steadying breath. With his mind completely focused and fully aware of the lives he was about to end, he thrust the shard at the oncoming ship.

The effect was instantaneous and devastating. It was as if a massive sword had cut the human vessel in half. The severed segments began flying along differing courses, explosions and venting atmosphere propelling them in ever-changing, erratic trajectories. Cazz-ak immediately ordered evasive maneuvers, hoping to avoid the rapidly approaching weapon rounds and ship debris.

We aren’t moving fast enough, Cazz-ak thought, helplessness engulfing him. The metal slugs fired from the human ship slammed into them, punching massive holes through the lightly armored hull. The impacts and subsequent venting atmosphere caused the bi-pyramid to jerk and shudder, knocking many of the surrounding Entho-la-ah-mines to the floor. Cazz-ak, already weak from his massive use of the Great Thought, flew into one of the walls.

As he was rising to his feet, Cazz-ak saw Elth-eo-lan and the new Queen a short distance away. Looking past, he saw the oncoming debris of the human ship. While most of the larger pieces had spiraled off in different directions, one distressingly large fragment remained on a collision course. Cazz-ak knew instinctively the current state of his crew would prevent further maneuvers, leaving them dead in space. The damage and death caused by the human weapons were too severe to overcome in such a short time. The impact of the fragmented human ship will finish the destruction of our vessel.

Small jets of venting gas drew Cazz-ak's eyes to the foremost chunk of the human ship. At first, he couldn't tell what was happening—Perhaps some of their supplies exploding? —but then he realized it was some sort of escape system. He had never seen such a thing before, but he immediately understood that having such a system would save many of his crew.

When he looked back down at Elth-eo-lan and the new Queen, he immediately sensed their terror, and more deeply, an unfaltering trust in him. I cannot help them, he mourned, feeling like a failure. Had the Queen not been aboard it would have been a terrible loss, but with her death, he would be responsible for the extinction of his species. In that moment, he felt a grief and pain so intense his connection to the Great Thought began severing.

The Queen's voice brought him back, both to reality and the Great Thought. “Cazz-ak-tak, you were chosen for this duty because you will not fail.” Her voice was light and soft in his mind, encouraging, yet firm. Cazz-ak almost responded that he was already failing, that they were already dead, those on this ship and eventually the rest of the species. Experiencing the Queen's trust and Elth-eo-lan's hope made him push aside his despair and self-condemnation. I am still alive, and I will fight until all strength has departed.

He had no idea how to save the Queen, but a look back at the human escape system gave him a flash of inspiration. He set about implementing his plan, knowing he had no time for mistakes or delay. It would be a matter of minutes before the fragments hurtled into the Entho-la-ah-mine vessel. Cazz-ak had much work to do.