Ambassador Che’kix sat in his office thinking this would be just like any other day. He was very wrong.
His assistant burst into the room in a ruffle of feathers. Tiny wisps of down followed her.
“Ambassador, we have a Priority One transmission from the Apex. They are calling an emergency council meeting. It will start as soon as everyone has linked into the QE-network.
He jumped up from his chair. Spreading his wings, he ran to the balcony and leapt off. It was a beautiful day and the sun was warming the sides of the mountains creating updrafts. He found one, and rode it up into the sky above his mountaintop villa.
It struck him that he hadn’t really had the time to enjoy a good fly in quite some time. There was a gentle breeze from the north he had to compensate for if he wanted to stay in the thermal, but eventually he got to the altitude he wanted.
Folding his wings, he dove down away from his office and toward the city. At the speed he was flying, any normal Cheech could be given a ticket for reckless endangerment. He was an Ambassador, however, and his station assumed the occasional need for what in most situations would be considered excessive flight speed.
He was making good time, but then he saw a flock of pennestrians rise into the sky between him and the communications station. He could tell by their plumage they were still adolescents.
“School fieldtrips will be the death of me yet,” he mumbled to himself as he bore down on their position at near freefall speeds.
When he got close enough for them to hear, he bellowed, “Get out of the way! Galactic Council business! Move!”
The flock flowed to make a hole and he shot through. A handful of meters above the ground, he snapped his wings open and slowed his descent. He had enjoyed a large breakfast with his mate earlier, and the extra weight of it made his landing somewhat rough. It must have been the large breakfast, because he would never admit that he had been gaining weight.
His assistant Gak’Cha had clearly called ahead, because there was an escort waiting at the doors to the facility for him. She held the entrance open for him.
“Ambassador, the Quantum Relay is established, all you have to do is go in.”
He hurriedly entered and said, “Thank you.”
Working his way past the reception area and through the halls he soon entered the QE-COM holo-chamber. On stepping inside, he checked himself. He found some stray feathers and some down that he quickly groomed away and handed off to the assistant. Finding the activation controls, he keyed them.
The room shifted into the Galactic Council Chambers on Earth. The Humans had built it after the previous chambers were destroyed by the Vashali. Looking around, he saw the projections of various ambassadors and representatives resolving in their specified areas. He was not the last, thank the Flock.
In a few minutes, all the delegates were present. Ambassador Ahuja’s likeness faded into existence to stand at the central podium. He looked unkempt, and had a sling holding one arm.
“Honored ambassadors, I speak to you now from the flagship Retribution, in the Vashali home galaxy. Thank you all for answering our summons so quickly.”
Primarch Gesh responded, “This is most peculiar. Why are you, an esteemed ambassador, aboard a fleet battleship on the front lines?”
“I came at the request of the military to guide our contact with a species that has been enslaved to the Vashali for the past thousand years.”
At this revelation, an audible gasp went through the gathered assembly.
After pausing for his words to take full effect, Ahuja continued, “Our forces have faced no resistance from this species, and as such has withdrawn all military presence from their planet. Upon my arrival, these beings have been most amicable in every way.”
He took a deep breath and visibly braced himself for his next words.
“Unfortunately, the Vashali discovered their change of allegiance. About three hours ago, a new and previously un-encountered Vashali warship jumped into the system and released a barrage of munitions on the planet. From what we can tell, they were independently guided FTL capable atomic devices. Thousands of them emerged from FTL in the lower atmosphere of the planet and detonated. Everything and everyone on the surface at that time perished.”
Silence permeated the chambers until Primarch Gesh asked, “What were the casualties among the Apex? Were there any survivors of this new species?”
“I and a small contingent were on the surface at the time of the strike. Representatives of the species quickly surrounded us and shielded us from the blast with their bodies as they carried us into their underground dwellings. Many of them sacrificed themselves so that we might live.”
“They are to be commended for their bravery and sacrifice!” the Grend ambassador shouted. His sentiments were soon met with a rumble of approval from the other delegates.
Ahuja looked around the room with a solemn expression and continued, “While they were spared from the initial blasts, the radiation unleashed upon this world has saturating the soil and atmosphere of their planet. The inhabitants need immediate evacuation. While we can take some, our fleet does not have the capability to accomplish what is needed, so I have come to you for aid. Please, help us evacuate this planet.”
Va’roo spoke first, “If it is what is needed, all the races on the Council will unite to render aid to these beings.”
Ahuja looked at him with an expression that seemed almost pained and said, “My friend Va’roo, before you commit I must tell you, all of your species have met these beings before.”
There was a murmur of confusion that went around the room before Gesh asked, “What species could it possibly be? All the known races are represented in this very hall, are they not?”
Ahuja took a deep breath, and replied, “The species we seek to save…are the Krador.”
Shouts of disbelief and anger rang out through the room. None of the gathered delegates could believe what they had just heard. The very idea of saving such a barbaric and animalistic species was beyond fathomable.
“Please,” Ahuja continued, “As I said, they have been the slaves of the Vashali for a thousand years. Those we have made contact with are fully intelligent and reasonable beings. When we explained their part in the war, they expressed deep shame and remorse for their actions. I believe there are mitigating circumstances that must be considered.”
“Murderers!” a voice rang out.
“Savages!” another confirmed.
Soon the room was a cacophony of angry shouting.
Ahuja looked down at his podium, dejected. Ambassador Che’kix had never seen the formidable ambassador of the Apex like this before. For the first time, he seemed small.
Primarch Gesh’s amplified voice rang out through the hall, “Quiet! Order to the assembly!”
The room grew quieter, but no less angry.
Gesh demanded, “How can you ask this of us? It is by their fangs and claws our families have been torn from us. They were the very tool of destruction used to cause the genocide of countless billions across dozens of worlds! I believe I speak for the entire council when I say none of our people would stand behind any delegate that pledged support to save these monsters.”
“That is why you must explain to them, convince them, that these are not the same as those who caused you such pain.”
The Grend ambassador called out, “You say they were enslaved. Were they offered the same bargain as the one you rejected? Did their ancestors make a deal with the Vashali for long life, health, and prosperity?”
Ahuja contemplated his response for a moment, then submitted, “Yes, from what we can tell they were made the same offer a thousand years ago, and they took it.”
“Then their slavery is on their own heads, as are the consequences of associating with such vile beings!”
The council erupted with shouts of approval.
Ahuja, somewhat taken aback by this, asked, “Are they to be blamed for the mistakes and evils of their forefathers? They are not so long lived a species that the ones who made the agreement then are still alive. Would you really stand and judge those alive today for believing lies they had been taught from the moment they emerged from their egg?”
The room went silent as the gathered ambassadors contemplated this.
Gesh addressed Ahuja, “If we were to help them escape the consequences of their actions, where would they go? There is no world in the council that will accept them into our systems or our space. Their presence is not only abhorrent to us, but it would also mark our worlds for possible retaliation by the Vashali. Who do you suggest take such a great risk in sheltering them? Will we give them a former colony their soldiers butchered, and disgrace the memories of those fallen?”
His voice became stern and solid as he said, “No, honored Apex, this is asking too much of anyone. It is the will of the Council that the Krador be left to their fate.”
The delegates then saw something that would not be repeated for over eight centuries. The representative of the Apex got down on his knees and begged.
“My friends, you know us. You have heard of our history. We have been a cruel, savage, and brutal race. In the past we knew nothing but war. First we made war on the other predators for safety, then on the environment for shelter, and finally and most shamefully on ourselves for greed. In victory, and defeat, we had every reason to hate our rivals, our enemies. The natural law would demand those who caused such pain be destroyed. The natural law required that we take life to buy safety. But eventually, we were given a higher principle. Without it we would have remained savages and beasts.”
He looked up and around the room with tears falling from his eyes and said, “To help a friend is an easy choice. To save an enemy is hard. In the final calculation, if we are to live in the world, galaxy, or universe that we ultimately desire, mercy must be above the law. Please, show mercy to the Krador and help us save them.”
The room was silent as a tomb for a score of breaths. Nobody knew what to say. The mighty Apex, brought to their knees begging for the lives of their enemies was completely alien to them all. They looked around the room at one another, some with confusion, some with concern, and a scant few with shame. None, even the Broda, answered Apex’s call to mercy.
Save one.
“By all who dwell in cloud and sky, we will send every available ship to carry the Krador from their doomed world to wherever the Apex ask of us. So promise the children of the sky.”
Che’kix was stunned at the words he had just spoken. Every eye was now on him, some stunned, some upset, but most in disbelief.
Of all those eyes, the only ones that he cared about at that moment were the eyes of the Apex.
The Cheech trade fleet was second only to the Broda, and he had just committed them all to travel to another galaxy and save those who had been their mortal enemies.
Clasping his hands in front of him, Ahuja bowed his head and said, “Thank you.”
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
It had taken weeks, but the survivors of the Krador home world had been recovered and transported to their new planet on the wings of the Cheech trade vessels. The relocation dealt a major economic blow to the avians, and Che’kix knew he would face consequences from his government and people for committing such a vast amount of resources to save their enemies. In the end, they grudgingly stood behind his sacred oath. After it was all over, thanks to public outcry his title of Ambassador was rescinded. He would never represent his people to the Galactic Council again.
Third Queen of the Northern Plains exited the ship and walked toward the waiting Apex and the former Cheech ambassador.
“Ambassador Ahuja, is this the one who answered your call to carry us away from the poisoned world?”
“It is.”
Third Queen looked behind her at the collection of queens and motioned for them to come forward.
“These are the ones who saved us sisters. To them, we owe our future and the future of our children.”
They gathered around the two men and began lightly brushing them with their antennae.
After they were done, third queen explained, “The scent of all Apex has become known to us. As for you, Che’kix of the Cheech people, because of your actions the scent of your people is now known to us as well. All future generations of Krador will recognize you and your kind as family alongside the Apex.”
“You honor us,” was all Che’kix could think to say.
“And you saved us.”
After their exchange, Third queen looked around at the lush surroundings. Thick foliage rose many meters up out of the ground, and the sounds of strange local wildlife met their ears.
Looking to Ahuja, she said, “I understand none of the council species would take us into their systems. How is it a world as vibrant and full of life as this was not populated by one of them before now?”
Ahuja responded, “It was the ruling of the Council that none of their worlds could take you in. Even if we chose one of the available charted planets, they were barely habitable enough for you to survive. Also, it would not guarantee your safety if the Vashali ever found where you went. You needed a protected home if you were to have a future. Fortunately, there is one species that is not a part of the council that had such a planet.”
Her antennae swayed in disbelief at his words, “This species agreed to take us in?”
“Yes, a vote was taken by the inhabitants and the results were effectively unanimous at 96% of the population. You are invited to dwell among any of the peoples of this world, wherever you wish.”
“Did they not suffer loss at the claws of our children?”
“Yes, but not as greatly as others.”
“We owe the Apex our present, and this species our future it seems.”
The old diplomat smiled and said, “No, you owe nothing. They are keeping a promise.”
Turning her head toward him and waving her antennae inquisitively she asked, “To whom, and what was the promise?”
He reached out his hand and placed it gently on her thorax and replied, “To redeem your people from the Vashali. There was no other place we could keep this promise to you but our own planet. Welcome to Earth. Welcome to your new Homeworld .”