Free Star Force: Resolution (SF89) (Star Force Origin Series) by Aer-ki Jyr Page A

Star Force, thus
severing the connection to your current society and allowing it to die. The
Trinx will be reborn anew as we have done with many other races.”
    “And what happens to those of us that are already
here?”
    “You will be confined until such a time you can prove
your worth. During that time you will train and we will teach you what you need
to know.”
    “You have facilities to house all of our population?”
    “Yes.”
    “And if we prove our worth, we will return here under
your banner?”
    “Possibly. If you can surrender this world to us we
can facilitate a less abrupt transition that keeps many of you here.”
    “What function would we serve in your empire?”
    “That would also depend on your merit, but make note
that we do not hold future generations responsible for the actions of the
current ones.”
    “There would be a penalty exacted upon us then?”
    “Other than the revocation of your sovereignty, no.”
    “No?”
    “We are here to neutralize a threat. If you choose to
neutralize yourself then we have no need to penalize you. This system will be
ours, the Trinx will be annexed, and no part of you will be allowed to escape
to exist independently and threaten us again. Those are the terms I’m
offering.”
    “What of the Hamoriti?”
    “It will be removed. Preferably still sedated, but I
have a controller here that can order it away from the planet if it wakes.”
    “Your invasion takes more care to safeguard our lives
than our own leaders.”
    “That’s because we’re the good guys.”
    “I do not understand the depth of most of which you
speak, but we have very few options and you are offering us an alternative
other than death. Given the betrayal our leaders exercised upon you, I can
understand if there are more lethal feelings on your part, and I thank you for
staying your hand. Will the other members of The Nine abide by your terms?”
    “They have agreed to follow my lead. They are here to
assist, then they wish to wash their hands of the matter.”
    “And rightly so. Our entire race has been shamed. You
brought salvation and we sought to destroy you for it. I hereby offer the
surrender of all forces aligned with me, though given current circumstances we
cannot get to you at the moment. I will make what contacts I can in orbit and
try to secure the surrender of some of the facilities there while we gather our
strength for an assault on one of the shield generators. I do not know how long
it will take. Things are very much in flux down here, and your intent to annex
us will alter them much more so.”
    “We’re not in a hurry,” Oni offered. “Take your time
and keep as many people alive as you can.”
    The Trinx bowed. “You do us an honor we do not
deserve.”
    The Archon summoned up a holo conference with the
fleet commanders, knowing that it was going to take some minutes for all of
them to assemble. “Now that we have come to an understanding, let’s get
everyone on the same page so there are no miscommunications. Then we will find
a way to deal with your insane former leaders.”

 
    7

 
 
    August 1, 3290
    Paquat System
    Vikod (Trinx homeworld)

 
    Onnet ran through the Trinx
streets as explosions blasted apart the building to his right above the
centerline. Large chunks of it flew out laterally, then the whole top crumbled
and fell towards him. The Yisv knew he couldn’t get out of the way in time so
he ran towards the underside of the falling building and tucked up against the
wall as the rubble came down, blurring his body out of physical mode and into
the ethereal wisp that splashed apart with the first piece of building to hit.
    His mind disintegrated with each hit, leaving him
unable to move or think other than through base instincts. He couldn’t see much
at all, merely a numb awareness of the material his body was contacting. He
wouldn’t move through the solid building rubble like he could the thin
membranes in a Yisv city, but he survived in