First of the First Read online

  First Of The First

  Andrew Maclure

  Acknowledgements

  Cover design by Cathy Helms, Avalon Graphics LLC

  www.avalongraphics.org

  Editor: Judi Pilgrim

  With special thanks to Alicia Cox

  CONTENTS

  Title Page

  Note To Readers

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty One

  Chapter Twenty Two

  Chapter Twenty Three

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Chapter Twenty Five

  Chapter Twenty Six

  Chapter Twenty Seven

  Chapter Twenty Eight

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty One

  Chapter Thirty Two

  Chapter Thirty Three

  Chapter Thirty Four

  Chapter Thirty Five

  Chapter Thirty Six

  Chapter Thirty Seven

  Chapter Thirty Eight

  Chapter Thirty Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty One

  Chapter Forty Two

  Chapter Forty Three

  Chapter Forty Four

  Chapter Forty Five

  Chapter Forty Six

  Chapter Forty Seven

  Chapter Forty Eight

  Chapter Forty Nine

  Chapter Fifty

  Chapter Fifty One

  Chapter Fifty Two

  Chapter Fifty Three

  Chapter Fifty Four

  Chapter Fifty Five

  Chapter Fifty Six

  Chapter Fifty Seven

  Chapter Fifty Eight

  Chapter Fifty Nine

  Chapter Sixty

  Chapter Sixty One

  Chapter Sixty Two

  Chapter Sixty Three

  Chapter Sixty Four

  Chapter Sixty Five

  Chapter Sixty Six

  Chapter Sixty Seven

  Chapter Sixty Eight

  Chapter Sixty Nine

  Chapter Seventy

  Chapter Seventy One

  Chapter Seventy Two

  Chapter Seventy Three

  Chapter Seventy Four

  Chapter Seventy Five

  Chapter Seventy Six

  Chapter Seventy Seven

  Chapter Seventy Eight

  Chapter Seventy Nine

  Chapter Eighty

  Chapter Eighty One

  Chapter Eighty Two

  Chapter Eighty Three

  Chapter Eighty Four

  Chapter Eighty Five

  Chapter Eighty Six

  Chapter Eighty Seven

  Chapter Eighty Eight

  Chapter Eighty Nine

  Chapter Ninety

  Chapter Ninety One

  Chapter Ninety Two

  Chapter Ninety Three

  Chapter Ninety Four

  Chapter Ninety Five

  Chapter Ninety Six

  Chapter Ninety Seven

  Chapter Ninety Eight

  Chapter Ninety Nine

  Chapter One Hundred

  Chapter One Hundred And One

  Chapter One Hundred And Two

  Note To Readers

  This is the translation provided by the AI of Mark, Friend of the People, using British English idioms and American English spellings

  It is customary in the galactic military culture for all ranks to be addressed with a non-gender specific form or honorific. This is because not all species have two genders. Some reproduce parthenogenically, with no need of a second gender, some have three or more genders – which makes their sex lives complicated - some change gender through their natural life cycles and some – are very weird. With some it is simply very difficult to tell which gender they belong to, so assigning them a gender specific honorific is fraught with the risk of getting it wrong. As there is no English equivalent with the commonly used non-gender specific honorific, the translation of the form of address for all officers in this book is ‘sir’ regardless of gender.

  Chapter One

  A Threat Delivered

  The wormhole at the edge of the small nondescript solar system became active again. Having been virtually unused for hundreds of thousands of years, it had become extremely well used in the last few months.

  It all started when the wormhole delivered a small but capable invasion force of well-organized outcasts. They systematically destroyed all the off-world research stations, orbital space stations and satellites. Then they descended upon the only inhabited planet in the solar system and attacked the relatively primitive population, overwhelming their unprepared military and engaging in a campaign of genocide. This was quickly halted by the intervention of a galactic independent army, given logistical support by one of the People, and more directly, albeit unwillingly, by a human who had recently been made a Friend of the People.

  The wormhole activity culminated in transferring the largest invasion fleet the galaxy had seen for nearly a billion years into the solar system. Once the invasion fleet had passed through and assembled, it promptly disappeared. Only a certain member of the People, Ker Din Ser Forn, or Alan, as he was known to some, knew what had happened to it, and he wasn’t saying.

  The devastated civilization of Gnn’Ath, the planet so undeservedly attacked by the outcast army led by Tk'ng Dach Rm, was now being assisted by the Boran Medical Emergency and Recovery Group, a voluntary charitable organization who assisted in medical emergencies and helped populations recover. The name says it all.

  Now another heavily armed fleet arrived, unannounced and unwelcome. The fleet took up position in orbit around Gnn’Ath and ten military landing craft descended to the new capital of Taurakan, the old capital having been destroyed in an incident involving a fusion bomb and a well-meaning but inept attempt to defuse it.

  The landing craft settled in front of the new Government House and five hundred heavily armed and armored soldiers disembarked, forming defensive positions around the landers, complete with magazine fed mortars, heavy duty pulsed beam cannon and motorized surface to air missile batteries. Who they thought they were defending themselves from is not clear, as the previous invasion had totally destroyed the entire planet’s military forces. The enthusiasm was commendable, though the logic for such a show of force might be questioned.

  Last to disembark, surrounded by his personal guard, was Major Bryd Sa Dett of the Herassan Federation Army. He strode straight up the steps and into the reception area. His personal guards relieved the two Gnn’Athian armed guards of their weapons – one of whom until a few days ago had been an apprentice tailor and the other a junior clerical officer in the nation’s vehicle licensing agency.

  The Major stopped at the front desk and demanded the terrified receptionist tell him where the First Minister was to be found.

  Escorted by his armed guard, the Major marched down a broad corridor and up a wide staircase that led to the double doors of the First Minister’s office. At his instruction, two of his guards kicked the doors open. He strode in and stopped in front of the First Minister’s desk. The First Minister leapt to his feet, gulped, and said, “Can I help yo
u?”

  “I am Major Bryd Sa Dett, Commander of the Herassan Federation Combined Armed Forces expeditionary force. Our mission is to retrieve Hess An Sur, First Born of the First Family of the Herassan Federation Of The Five Planets to her rightful place.”

  “Well, I wish you every success Major, but I am afraid that due to the recent unpleasantness on our world, we are not in a position to offer you any assistance at the moment. Would you like refreshments? I will order tea and biscuits.”

  The Major slammed his fist on the desk, making the First Minister jump. “You are in a position to assist, and you will do so. I have reason to believe that sooner or later, Her Highness, the First Born of the First will return here. When she does, you will inform me with this.” One of the guards placed a small device on the First Ministers desk. “It is a communication device that you will use to tell me when she arrives. We will collect her and never trouble you again. If you fail to contact me, we will bomb this city into dust from orbit. If you or your people try to prevent me from my duty, we will use lethal force to ensure compliance. Is that clear?”

  The First Minister gulped again. “Crystal clear Major, but I don’t understand. Her Highness the First Born of the First Family of the, umm, wherever it is, has never visited us. Until we were invaded we thought we were alone in the universe. We certainly didn’t have any alien royalty visiting us. If she hasn’t been here before, how can she return?”

  Resting both his hands on the edge of the desk and leaning forward until his face was only a few centimeters from the First Minister’s, the Major said, “She was with the army that cleared the outcast scum from your planet. She will return. You will tell me when she does, and we will collect her. Would you care for me to demonstrate the consequences for your miserable little planet if you don’t?”

  “No, Major. A demonstration isn’t necessary, you can rely on me.” the First Minister said nervously. “The communicator, how does it work?”

  “You press the red button on it and speak. You shouldn’t have too much trouble working out which one it is, it’s the only button on it. Don’t fail me.”

  The Major pushed himself off the desk, spun on his heel and marched out, followed by his retinue.

  Chapter Two

  Orbit

  The Swift blinked into orbit above a planet with two small moons. The planet had a few blue patches, but it was mostly covered in cloud.

  “I thought you said this would be interesting?” Mike said. “If this is your idea of interesting, give me advanced warning next time and I’ll go and have a sleep while we’re there. In fact, I’m going for a sleep now. Wake me up when we’ve left”

  “But this is Gnn’Ath!” Mark exclaimed.

  “That damp and gloomy little shit-hole where you tried to blow yourself into atoms with a fusion bomb?”

  “That was an accident. Anyway, I thought Sally would like to have a discussion with the First Minister of Taurakan after he was so dismissive about saving his race from Tk'ng Dach Rm’s assault.”

  “Where? I thought you said this was Gnn’Ath?” Mike said.

  “Taurakan is the country where we attacked the invasion force base and includes the Southern continent where the last of the fighting took place.”

  “Oh, yeah. It was their capital that you flattened with the fusion bomb.”

  “I was trying to defuse it! Anyway Sally, do you want to meet him and give him a kicking?” Mark asked.

  “Not really.” Sally said. “Victims rarely show gratitude for being saved. They usually blame their rescuers.”

  “Very true.” Mike said. “You and Alan for example.”

  “That’s not the same!” Sally snapped.

  “You never explained why you dislike Alan so much. What happened?” Mark asked.

  “It’s complicated, as you and your People friends say when you don’t want to explain something.” Sally said, glowering at him.

  Mark turned to Mike. “Can you tell me?” he asked.

  “That’s for Sally to tell, when she’s ready.”

  “Damned right! And now is not the time. I’m going for a run.” Sally turned and stomped out of the command center.

  “This is going well.” Mark said. “I thought this would make you both happy. You think it’s a boring shit-hole and now Sally’s in a foul mood. I think I’ll just go and kill myself.”

  “I can help you with that.” Mike said.

  “You’re all heart.” he answered.

  “Cheer up Mark. It could be worse.”

  “How?”

  “Simon could be here.”

  Mark laughed. “You’re right. I suppose we’d better go somewhere else. Got any suggestions?”

  “Yeah, I suggest you relax. We’ll stay here for now. Sally will soon calm down, but I’d keep out of her way for a while if I were you. I’m going to. She might like to go and have a look around later. I’ll contact the Boran Medical Emergency and Recovery Group and we can meet up with them.” Mike said.

  “Who are they?”

  “They organize volunteers to help out when there has been a natural disaster, or a plague, or a war. Sally called them in as soon as the fighting was over on Gnn’Ath. They are very experienced and have protocols agreed with the People when they are dealing with pre-emergent civilizations. She has friends who work with them, so if they are here, she will probably want to go and see them.”

  “If they help out when there has been a natural disaster, why haven’t they been to Earth? We’ve had enough of those in our history.”

  “The only circumstances they will intervene in a pre-emergent civilization is when it has been attacked by a post emergent enemy. How often has that happened to Earth?”

  “Uh, never, as far as I know.”

  “That would explain why they’ve never been there. Come on, a session of unarmed combat training will take your mind off things and I can enjoy myself by giving you a good beating.” Mike said.

  “In your dreams” Mark grinned, and they blinked to the gym.

  Chapter Three

  Old Friends, New Friends

  The lander settled gently on Gnn’Ath. Sally, Mike and Mark stepped out to be greeted by a reptile a bit bigger than Mark and a stocky mammalian female. Both were dressed in white jumpsuits. The female mammal had torn the legs off her jumpsuit to make shorts and removed the sleeves to expose thick muscular arms. They ran to Sally and almost crushed each other with hugs.

  “They seem excited to see each other.” Mark said to Mike.

  “The reptile is Touren Ud Sen, the mammal is Bekkreshan an Erret. Sally hasn’t seen them for a long time.”

  “Do you know them?”

  “No, but Sally has spoken about them in the past, and I spoke to Touren to arrange to meet here.”

  The reptile called Touren came over to Mike and Mark. “It is good to meet you Mike.” Turning to Mark she said: “You must be Mark.”

  “Yes, I must be. And you must be Touren.”

  “I have heard of your exploits, Mark, Friend of the People and slayer of Tk’ng Dach Rm. I was expecting someone, uh, bigger.”

  Mark sighed. “No, this is all I am.”

  “Mike spoke about you too.” Touren said.

  “I hope she had something good to say about me.”

  “Now you mention it, no, she didn’t. But Sally is unnaturally fond of you, so you must have hidden talents.”

  Mark sighed again.

  “I’m kidding, Mark.” Touren grinned, showing a mouthful of white dagger like teeth. “You have a great reputation as a warrior and Mike was very complimentary.”

  “Don’t tell him that!” Mike said. “He’ll get delusions of adequacy.”

  Touren grabbed Mark and lifted him up in a crushing hug. “Thank you for making my dear friend Sally happy.” She put him down and he folded at the waist, bending over and struggling to breathe again. Touren continued, “I hope you will be my friend too.”

  While Mark gasped for air, Bekkreshan came to
join them. Mark, still bent over, put his arm up to her, “Just a moment,” he wheezed. Then he spoke to his AI: “For god’s sake Kate, can’t you adjust my phase shift armor to protect me a bit better?”

  “It was a friendly hug.” his AI answered.

  “You need to re-evaluate what is acceptable to me! If it stops me breathing, it is not acceptable. Got it?”

  “I will adjust the protection levels against friendly gestures accordingly.”

  “Didn’t you detect any stress in my vital signs that you monitor so assiduously?”

  “Yes, but according to the Earth archive, many humans derive pleasure from physical stress. I will ensure that you do not suffer physical stress from a friendly interaction again.”

  “Or an unfriendly one.”

  “Or an unfriendly one.” his AI echoed. “However, it may reduce the pleasure that you enjoy when mating with Sally in future.”

  “I’ve told you before, we do not mate!”

  “Of course Mark. I’ll rephrase that. It may reduce the pleasure that you enjoy when you copulate with Sally in future.”