Free Star Force: Retribution (SF60) by Aer-ki Jyr Page A

day
forward your race will take orders from you, as will these others. You are my
personal emissary and war leader, and I task you with preserving and shielding
my servants against the lizards. ”
    Cal-com wanted to bow, but refrained from doing so. “ How am I to accomplish this? ”
    “ The task is not
straightforward, nor simple. If it were a Dafchor would not be required. I will
teach you what you need to know, and guide you from time to time, but you and
you alone will be in command of the 9 races I am entrusting you with, including
your own, though your people are more than capable of handling their own
affairs. You will not be remaining here, for this is too distant from the
conflict. You must go to the heart of the problem and solve it from within .”
    The galaxy map shrunk again slightly, with the ADZ
almost disappearing off the edges as lizard space expanded.
    “ These are the
strongest lizard worlds ,” the dragon said, highlighting a region that was
not in the center, as Cal-com already knew, but further rimward in the lizards’ current territory. “ You
will avoid them. Here is where you must go, ” he said as a single star
system was highlighted up closer to the edge of the galactic plane and more in
the center of lizard territory but still askew to the ADZ side. “ This system you will conquer and claim, and
from it you will establish contact with the races I am entrusting you with.
With the gifts I am granting the Voku you will build a stronghold here that the
enemy will not be able to touch, but you cannot share those gifts with those
you will protect. ”
    That last sentiment was emphasized telepathically as a
line that could never be crossed, even if it meant risking their demise.
    “ You must use
them and their abilities to defend as you see fit. You can place your strengths
within them, but they must never possess them. I trust you understand the
difference? ”
    “ I do ,”
Cal-com said solemnly.
    “ They will obey
your commands, retool them as you like. If you put them astray of the path we
wish of them I will correct you. If I say nothing proceed as you will. Be wise
and wary, but do not delay. Once the lizards consume their holdings they will
pose a threat your races cannot withstand on their own. You must strengthen
them before the storm arrives on their shores .”
    “ What of Star
Force? ”
    “ They are not
one of our servants, but they are more valuable to us than the Voku. You need
no longer safeguard them, but they are a common ally against the lizards and
others. Let them grow on their own accord, but keep close the ties you already
possess and continue your planning work with the one called Paul. Modify it to
act as a bridge to your target system .”
    “ How much time
do I have to prepare my wards? ”
    “ Even we do not
know that for certain, but the storm is coming. There is no guarantee of your
success, nor will we intervene if you fail. I may be giving you an untenable
task if our time estimates are overly generous. You are to work the problem,
not be consumed with the outcome. You are a Dafchor because we have no doubts
as to your loyalty or skills. This is not a test of you, you are proven. Apply
your skills and let fate make what it may. ”
    Cal-com crossed both arms over his chest and thumped
them twice in a Voku gesture of pride and eagerness that signaled he was
willing and able to accept the challenge.
    The holograms suddenly disappeared and the dragon’s
wings returned to his sides as his front legs came down and he went back to
being a quadruped, but from behind the low wall that obscured Cal-com’s vision
of what lay on the other side floated a small object that came up over the
Elder’s back and hovered beside its head.
    “ Remove your
eyepiece .”
    Cal-com did as ordered, taking the artificial
enhancement off and revealing his natural eyes to the dim, unfiltered light of
the Elder’s chamber. When he did so the tiny, shiny object flew up into