Conquest by Toby Neighbors

Author:Toby Neighbors [Neighbors, Toby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
ISBN: 9781952260308
Publisher: Mythic Adventure Publishing
Published: 2021-06-23T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

I couldn’t believe I had gotten myself right back into the same spot I had worked so hard to get out of not long before. But I told myself things had changed. The Fleet was here, and that meant we had backup. All we had to do was stay alive until we were rescued.

It was amazing how much had changed in such a short amount of time. After decades exploring space and engaging the Orrkasi in warfare, there were suddenly new species in our midst. I looked down at Mook, who was perched between two boulders as he watched one of the Orrkasi transport ships with his keen, unwavering gaze. I was closer to the Polytrots than probably anyone else on the planet, and yet I knew very little about them. It was unfortunate that the Rihla’s communications officer had folded under the pressure of leadership. Burrows had a gift for languages and could communicate with the Polytrots much better than I could.

“It’s hot,” I complained as I ran my hand along Mook’s back. The fur there was hot to the touch.

“Cho!” Mook replied without looking up.

Not only had cosmic relations suddenly changed, but our intelligence regarding the Orrkasi had increased exponentially. Unfortunately, it didn’t do me a lot of good at the moment, although I had to admit I was beginning to understand the Orrkasi strategy and tactics—on this world, at least. It made sense to me why they always seemed to attack large settlements on our other worlds. Out in the open, the Orcs were slow, big targets. And until recently, our laser rifles had a much greater reach. They were like a big prize fighter with short, powerful arms, always looking to close the distance and trap us in the corner where their strength could hurt us. Likewise, we had to be fast, agile, and always staying out of reach as we slowly wore them down.

I looked up. The sky was a brilliant royal blue color. “I wonder what’s going on up there,” I said. “My people are fighting the Orrkasi. That’s good news.”

“Kiz,” Mook yipped.

“And that means rescue soon,” I continued. “We should talk to your people about what you want to do. Can we take you to your home world?”

“Stayyyy,” Mook said. It was more of a whine, with Mook drawing out the human word.

“You want to stay on this planet?” I asked.

“Kiz!” he yipped.

I nodded. “Is this your home? Did you come from this world?”

“No!” Mook yipped. “Whovat!” It was the Polytrot word for ‘come.’

“The Orrkasi brought you here,” I said, thinking of the metal cages that the Orcs had held me in when I was captured. There had been a lot of those cages at their base. The other survivors had been held in them, and I had seen other Polytrots held in metal cages inside an Orrkasi transport ship.

“Cho!” Mook said.

It made me sad to think of how many Polytrots must have been brought here to serve the Orrkasi. I couldn’t help but wonder how many other species the Orcs had enslaved.

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