Cause for War: Reality Benders Book #7. LitRPG Series

By Michael Atamanov

The Army of Earth is being sent on its first tour of duty. Its fifty thousand proud and valiant troopers are the best of the best, full of hope for brilliant victories and spoils of war that can help Earth's humanity along in its development.
There's just one little problem though. The operation's Geckho commanders view their human vassals as mere cannon fodder, good only for plugging up holes in their defensive line and shipping out to the space war’s most punishing hotspots where the chance of surviving is practically nil. How should the Kung of Earth behave in this situation? Disobey the suzerains' orders, draw their ire and put his home planet under threat of complete annihilation? Or make a play for the freedom of humanity in a game of his own?
Read all about it in the seventh book of the Reality Benders series!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Magic Dome Books
• Release date: May 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9788076192997

Book preview

Introduction. Horde Conference

The Vaare Star System, Meleyephatian space

Gas giant satellite Vaare I-III, Horde space docks

Mobile communication center

THE HUGE SPHERICAL ROOM which had previously served as a construction hangar for the Horde’s large landing ships had been hurriedly refit as a long-distance communication center for hosting an emergency fleet conference. That was because the existing comms points on every military base or large starship could not be used due to Meleyephatian analysts’ security concerns. Their formidable adversary had already shown that they could quickly trace signals to their source and send starship strike groups out to destroy Meleyephatian Horde command centers. In an effort to avoid further loss of starships and personnel, military engineers had overhauled a structure at the orbital docks of the uninhabited Vaare system into a communications center in record time. Meanwhile, another group of military specialists had anchored a large number of gravity mines in nearby space because they had proven most effective against the adversary’s small starships in comparison to thermonuclear munitions or antimatter charges.

Right on schedule, the holographic projectors on the inner surface of the hangar started lighting up. In the darkness, the glowing figures of the Horde’s leaders appeared one after the next – the grand admirals of its fleets and the highest-ranked political leaders. Eleven arachnids of the twenty-one on the list... Twelve... Fourteen... Eighteen... They waited another thirty seconds, but the three missing leaders weren’t showing up.

The conference had been called by Krong Laa – a level-402 Strategist, commander of the First Fleet and the formal leader of the Meleyephatian Horde – his mandibles now twitching in dismay. Although he had backed away from the demanding task of administering the huge interstellar state and had long been on the periphery of the known galaxy expanding the Horde’s territory and bending ever more races to his will, he was not expecting such flagrant disobedience as skipping a conference called by the supreme leader. Was this a rebellion? An attempt to undermine his Authority in hopes of lowering his rank? Just in case, the Krong got off to a cautious start:

I do not see commander of the Third Fleet Grand Admiral Kung Rou. Leng Tou, Vassal Race Coordinator and Kung Maa, Head of Foreign Intelligence are also missing. Can anyone explain their failure to appear at such an important gathering?

The answer came from Kung Paa, the Horde’s Chief Analyst who had already stood unshakably in that position for one hundred seventy tongs. All biological organs and appendages of the wise and elder level-322 Analyst’s once living body had long since been replaced by cybernetic prostheses, and he had only the cybernetic implants and crystal memory drives enhancing his brain to thank for his being counted among the living attendees of this conference rather than as a robot. Kung Paa had built up a reputation for always having his finger on the pulse of current events throughout the galaxy. But mere knowledge is not enough. It is much more important to use that flow of information to make far-reaching conclusions. And in that regard, the Chief Analyst surpassed even the Jargs.

My Krong, the Third Fleet was stationed at the incursion point in the Kharsssh-O system and was first to give battle when our powerful and highly numerous foe suddenly appeared. Out of the fleet’s three thousand five hundred starships, according to my data, just one hundred twenty small-class ships were able to escape. The fleet’s flagship has been destroyed, and the commander’s respawn point was located there.

The Krong’s agonized chirr rolled through the hangar, echoing many times off its walls.

What an idiot! I see the many tongs of peace and local quibbles with weak enemies such as the Miyelonians and other riffraff lasted long enough that our admirals forgot to observe elementary security measures! And I suppose half of the crews were also in the real when our foe attacked, otherwise I cannot comprehend why the defeat was so crushing. I wish he and his fleet had been with us in the Aysar Cluster. Things have really been heating up out there lately! In the blink of an eye, he’d have learned extreme awareness and readiness for action at any moment. Has Kung Rou come back in the real world? If so, he should be executed for incompetence at once!!!

Yes, the Commander of the Third Fleet has returned. I was also able to obtain a report from him on the defeat and his losses. But after that, the main Throne World data centers were destroyed by our adversary along with millions of virt pods. And since that time there has been no word from the Kharsssh-O system in any reality. The enemy is jamming all comms channels. Coordinator Leng Tou was on the Throne World as well. He perished according to reports corroborated by several independent sources. It is unknown what became of Foreign Intelligence Chief Kung Maa. He was in the Paku-Uuu star system, which came under attack after the Throne World. But I would venture to guess that Kung Maa managed to escape, given his personal cloaked frigate has not turned up on the list of losses. Also, our Foreign Intelligence Chief is too cautious a player to get caught in such an elementary trap.

The Krong stayed silent, though he wanted to chirr in outrage. Yes, reports from the Throne World had been of the most awful variety for the last several ummi, but to hear things were so bad... He turned all twelve of his mobile eyes on the Chief Analyst and pronounced in a flat tone:

I have been in a hyperspace jump with my fleet for the past three ummi and cut-off from communication. The panic-monger yellow journalists in the media keep jabbering on about tens of thousands of starships of an unknown race appearing out of nowhere. And supposedly, a quarter ummi was all it took for them to wipe out all the orbital fortifications in the Kharsssh-O star system, which were constructed over hundreds of tongs and thought to be impenetrable. I trust those are exaggerations, yes? Even the Trillians couldn’t fight their way through to the Throne World with their royal fleet despite the fact that, at that time, it rivaled ours both in number and firepower. Tell me, advisor that this is untrue, and our orbital artillery is still holding strong and keeping up the fight!

Regrettably, that is not the case, my Krong, Kung Paa understood that the ruler, famed for his quick temper, would not like that answer but at that time it was more important to get the truth across than to sugarcoat such distressing information. We have credible reports of at least seventy-four thousand small-class enemy starships and over three hundred large ones equivalent in size to our battleships but surpassing them in firepower by approximately thirty times. The battle in the Kharsssh-O system was fast-paced and it was all over in just a quarter ummi. The enemy fleet neutralizes all starships attempting to leave the planet, while enemy battleships are now bombarding the Throne World. At the same time, no landing ships have been spotted in the Kharsssh-O System, nor any of the other systems under attack. All that has led us to believe our adversary means to destroy our infrastructure and exterminate our population rather than capture planets favorable to habitation.

The Chief Analyst’s tale was picked up by Second Fleet Commander Grand Admiral Khii.

I was receiving data on the battle in Kharsssh-O until the enemy cut off long-distance comms. They were attacking our Third Fleet, star fortresses and orbital artillery installations with total disregard for their losses from the outset. They lost over four thousand ships but destroyed all of the Throne World’s defensive structures. In the first phase of attack, there were many documented cases of small enemy interceptors sacrificing themselves by slamming into our artillery or large ships at high speed and self-detonating. And that was happening in the real world, where respawn is an impossibility. My Krong, we have come up against a group of fanatics without the slightest fear of death. Whatever they are sacrificing themselves for, they must be strongly convinced of it because they do so without the least bit of hesitation, gladly even.

The Senior Psionic entered the conversation just then, all eight of his limbs weighed down with magic rings to improve his Intelligence, psionic abilities and mental fortitude.

Our psionics have confirmed that theory. According to the fragmentary thoughts we have managed to read, the ‘Composite’ as they call themselves believe us to be an ancient nemesis of theirs – something along the lines of a religious symbol of evil – and they believe themselves to be conducting a historic holy war to bring our tyrannical reign to its final end. We have yet to truly comprehend what ‘ancient evil’ they have taken us for. But the Composite are completely unwilling to negotiate and will stop at nothing to destroy us. They are prepared to sacrifice whatever it takes to achieve their hallowed goal.

The Krong kept silent, then spoke up, not hiding his frustration.

All religious wars, regardless of what hokum the rulers declared at the outset about an ‘ancient evil’ or an ‘uncompromising holy fight that must go on until total victory,’ quickly lose steam as soon as the people start hearing about the heavy losses on the front. A switch flips in their brains. ‘Unshakable’ dogmas give way while the most notorious fanatic leaders are replaced with more flexible politicians. The Trillians were also once thought to be implacable religious fanatics, but we forced them to come to the table. However, there is another aspect of this story that’s bothering me. Have we ever gone to war with the Composite before? I cannot recall such an enemy in the Horde’s entire history.

The answer to that question also came from the Chief Analyst:

No, my Krong. Neither the Meleyephatians nor our vassals have ever encountered the Composite before. I have checked every archive. In fact, it isn’t even theoretically possible because our enemy came here from a different galaxy, which is now known for certain. I believe with a high degree of probability that our race was set up by other players in the game of grand interstellar politics. I can say with a probability of over seventy-two percent that the Trillians are behind the attack. Twenty-three percent it was the Miyelonians. And I put four percent on the Geckho. In any case, we can assume that whoever was behind this invasion will be found in our galaxy, and we are most likely already aware of them.

Grave accusations. Tell me, on what basis did you reach these conclusions? Krong Laa’s chirr clanged with a metallic edge, which did not bode well for whoever would be found at fault in the audacious attack which led to the loss of the Meleyephatian Horde’s capital.

Kung Paa was eager to explain:

As shown by battle reports and investigation of Composite ship wreckage, our enemy’s main weapon is a kind of pulse emitter which triggers a quadrupolar destabilization reaction. To put it bluntly, it’s a rare weapon in this region of space. However, not long before the invasion, something a lot like it was used in the Trillian-controlled Taikhirhh-o-Tsykh star system. Meanwhile a hyperspace drive identical to the kind used on the small Composite ships was patented by a Trillian corporation less than fifteen ummi ago. And that means the Trillians must have had contact with the Composite before the invasion and exchanged information with them.

The reasoning really was strong. All the Horde leaders at the conference agreed. However, Krong Laa was in no hurry to declare war on the Trillians and asked to be told the theories that could possibly implicate the Miyelonians or Geckho. The Chief Analyst explained:

"A Human Free Captain by the name of Kung Gnat figures prominently in both. A remarkable figure, I have put together a whole dossier on him. A swashbuckler with tremendous luck, he is a known confidant of Geckho leader Krong Daveyesh-Pir having completed special assignments for him in the past and engaged in them currently. He is also working for the Trillian royal family, having been rewarded by them for an unidentified outstanding feat with a functioning quadrupolar destabilizer, which is now fitted on his frigate the Tamara the Paladin. The best Gunner of the Trillian race was also transferred to Kung Gnat’s crew to man it."

Oh my! So, the Trillians are caught up in all this again, someone pointed out. But rather than get distracted, the Chief Analyst continued:

Furthermore, Kung Gnat is privately acquainted with a potential ruler of the Union of Miyelonian Prides Kung Keetsie-Myau and was in fact officially considered her fiancé. I have no doubt that the Great One has also assigned this man missions of particular importance because Gnat and his crew were also mentioned in the incident on Medu-Ro IV which served as the official pretext for beginning the sixteenth space war between us and the Geckho and Miyelonians. Beyond that, Free Captain Kung Gnat is also one of the most highly regarded experts in ancient races, particularly the Relicts. We have intelligence suggesting a near one hundred percent chance that Kung Gnat is in possession of Relict technology which can perform instantaneous space travel. Indeed, Kung Gnat is the only individual known to be capable of travelling to another galaxy to carry out this special assignment from his highly placed employers. Meanwhile, the Free Captain is not an independent figure. He has neither financial nor military power of his own. He is merely a pawn and cunning agent fighting someone else’s war. Anyone out there could have hired him.

A truly remarkable personage, the ruler of the Meleyephatian Horde agreed. The one thing I cannot comprehend is why none of you thought to try and hire this man to work for us. Diplomacy Advisor, I direct that question to you. Why is Kung Gnat not on our side? The Meleyephatian Horde would have plenty of missions for a clever swashbuckler who can travel instantaneously throughout the Universe.

My Krong, the Diplomacy Advisor tucked in his appendages, making himself appear half as large before continuing. Kung Gnat has in fact offered his services to the Meleyephatian Horde in the past, and more precisely to our vassals from Tailax. However, the Prelates of Tailax committed a staggering act of foolishness and blackmailed the Free Captain, making threats against his home planet and his female. Our potential partnership ended there and, soon after, Gnat was declared an enemy of the Horde. Now the Free Captain is working for the Geckho, assembling an army of vassals on his home planet for the war effort against us on an order from Krong Daveyesh-Pir. Furthermore, Kung Gnat has been granted official protection by Kung Keetsie-Myau. The First Pride intercepted a group of assassins sent by Tailax to Kasti-Utsh III and the Great One warned us that their peace treaty with the Meleyephatian Horde could be declared null and void if the Horde’s vassals continue surveilling her marriage-dance partner.

The ruler’s reaction was predictably harsh.

Just what we need right now! To be back at war with the Union of Miyelonian Prides! I demand that everyone involved in that failing be executed at once! Kung Gnat is no longer to be regarded as an enemy of the Horde, and he is to be informed via unofficial channels that I wish to speak with him personally. But enough about that swashbuckler. I need a situation report about the war.

The Chief Analyst quickly deployed a three-dimensional holographic screen of data arrays and started reading off information.

My Krong, we have lost four thousand combat ships including four battleships and two planet destroyers, which amounts to approximately fourteen percent of the Horde’s total military forces. The Composite has lost around seven thousand small-class starships and two battleships. It is still difficult to comprehend how significant that is to our enemy, because there are more of them coming out of the portals in Kharsssh-O all the time, and the flow of starships shows no sign of stopping. Other than the Throne World, we have lost the three star systems closest to the invasion point. We have lost comms link with all of them. Battle is still ongoing in eleven more, but I see no chance of holding onto them. That’s the bad news. Here’s the good: The Second Fleet pulled off a difficult win in Larsssh-U, fighting back the Composite’s attack and wiping out over seven hundred small enemy ships. The Fourth Fleet has joined forces with the Eighth and is heading toward the engagements. The Sixth Fleet has been recalled from the war against the Geckho and also redirected against our new enemy. In eight ummi’s time, we will have a strike force in the Parsssh-O and Uparssshi systems of eleven thousand ships for my Krong to deploy as he sees fit. We have begun evacuating the population and manufacturing facilities from the most vulnerable systems near the fighting, for which we have deputized civilian ships. An order has been given to mobilize all our space docks to replenish the Horde’s losses and all our vassals have been issued new accelerated production plans.

The rest of the Chief Analyst’s report was cut-off by an emergency message from the communications officer:

Attention! Composite ships in near space! One hundred sixty small Dero-class interceptors! They are approaching the mobile communications center!

Conference adjourned! Krong Laa declared, setting an example by switching off his long-distance communications.

One after the next, the glowing holograms of the Horde’s leaders went out – the participants were leaving the conference.

They sure detected this command center quick... the Senior Psionic spoke out in dismay, glancing at a timer and performing calculations.

He received a response from the Commander of the Eighth Fleet, who had brought up a video feed from the space dock’s external cameras for himself.

Yes, very quick. And until we figure out how our foe is doing that our flotillas will be constantly on their back foot. That’s all. They’re already coming this way. On the other hand, we now have a chance to take down some of their starsh...

The Grand Admiral was unable to finish. The mobile communications center disappeared in the bright flash of a large number of high-power gravity mines exploding in near space.

Chapter One. War Between Heavens and Earth

¹

I WAS IN THE DISPATCHER TOWER at the Geckho space port standing at a panoramic window in the restaurant area. The high perspective gave me an amazing view of the terrestrial space port which was unusually cluttered with spaceships. The great number of yachts, landing modules from passenger liners and shuttles belonged to guests at the wedding of Gerd Uline Tar and Viceroy of Earth Gerd Kosta Dykhsh. They ran the gamut from the tiny-looking Shiamiru cargo shuttles to a huge Kituvaru trade ship. A couple Sindirovu interceptors were for local Geckho services while three interceptors parked in a separate group belonged to the Relict Faction. My frigate the Tamara the Paladin was surrounded by a scurrying brigade of technicians under the watchful eye of chief Engineer Orun Va-Mart the Miyelonian and Supercargo Avan-Toi the Geckho, checking weapons systems, trading out fuel blocks and attaching proton torpedoes to suspension fittings. But all that space tech got lost on the backdrop of the three truly gargantuan large landing ships of the Third Geckho Strike Fleet, each of which was around the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza and even distantly resembling it in shape.

There was a half-mile-long line of Army of Earth troopers stretching out from each landing ship. Troops from a multitude of terrestrial factions, walking and wheeled combat robots, innumerable cargo trucks of equipment. The sight of it was majestic and I’d even say epic. Fifty-three thousand players. A bit more than the ruler of our suzerains Krong Daveyesh-Pir had demanded from Earth, but it wouldn’t have been right to turn away anyone wishing to take part in the first combat operation of this scale our planet had ever seen. The troopers were bursting with pride at the fact they were representing our world and champing at the bit to prove to all the great spacefaring races throughout the galaxy what our humanity was made of.

Captain, should you perhaps go address the troops? suggested Gerd Ayni Uri-Miayuu the Miyelonian, standing next to me and also transfixed by the spectacle. It will please them to see the Kung of Earth and it would be good for your Authority.

It seemed like a sensible idea, but still I refused.

I am not in command of this operation, I squinted at the pushed-together tables in the far corner of the restaurant where a group of military professionals was holding a conference. The ruler of the Second Directory, the immense General Leng Ui-Taka was gesticulating wildly and poking his fingers into an electronic tablet lying on the table as he tried in elevated tones to drive something home to his staff officers and a representative of Third Strike Fleet Commander Kung Waid Shishish, who was also attending the spontaneous gathering. Something had upset the highly experienced Strategist and he was telling the hulking Geckho officer his issues without mincing words.

Generals from the armies of Russia, Germany, China and the USA listened carefully to the representative of the magocratic world, nodding along and seeming to be in full agreement with him. The same could not be said for Gerd Avagi Dykhsh, sitting on three chairs at once in heavy shock armor and insisting on his own point of view, stubbornly refusing to listen to his opponents. I had no experience commanding troops, so I stayed out of it. But nevertheless, I would have to figure out what they were disagreeing about eventually.

It was somewhat strange to see Human-3 Faction member Gerd Alexander Antipov the fed Inquisitor among the highly placed military officers, but the ruler of the Second Directory approved his candidacy and even insisted on bringing the experienced counter-intelligence operative on as a staff officer. I must admit I didn’t understand that decision, but still I kept my amateurish advice to myself. I felt like an outsider in general at this whole grandiose event, something of a fifth wheel. The Krong of our suzerains had assigned me the task of assembling the Army of Earth. That was done, so in theory my part in all this was over. And now I was deep in thought, not knowing what to do next.

Fly off with the rest of the fleet on my starship? First of all, one frigate wouldn’t make much of a difference in battle against hundreds and even thousands of combat ships. Secondly, I wasn’t even told where the landing ships were headed. When I asked that question to a representative of the Commander, Gerd Avagi Dykhsh was as delicate and respectful as possible, but he nevertheless firmly asserted that it was confidential information he was not at liberty to disclose.

Naive. Naturally, I read everything I wanted to know from his thoughts. The Third Strike Fleet’s rallying point was the Ursa Star System. As an aside, I had taken direct part in its capture from the Meleyephatians and in many ways made it happen. But as for where the fleet would go next and what role the Army of Earth would play in its plans, Kung Waid Shishish’s representative himself wasn’t sure. Maybe they really were destined for Comet Un-Tau like the Viceroy of Earth told me in confidence during his wedding. Though now, with the Meleyephatians tied up in a new war, the Third Strike Fleet could have had different plans.

Fly to the rallying point on my own? That wasn’t likely to garner a positive reception. Even though Kung Waid Shishish considered me something of a lucky charm, he had not ordered me to join the fleet. Take care of my own business? For one, I could meet and have talks with other Geckho vassals like the Jargs and Esthetes and reach agreements for them to work together with the Humans of Earth as Gerd Kosta Dykhsh advised. Or I could get to work on the mission of epic difficulty from the Trillian Royal Family. But it would seem like a strange decision to stay out of the fiery space war when the army I had assembled, including thousands of my Relict Faction subjects, was preparing to spill blood. Put pressure on Gerd Avagi Dykhsh and insist on joining in? I was afraid I’d have to fall back on psionics to accomplish that, and I didn’t want to go asking for trouble. The Geckho officer seemed quite overconfident and stuck-up. He looked upon us Human vassals as unintelligent children with no understanding of space warfare blurting out uncalled-for suggestions.

The only being the Third Strike Fleet representative would have listened to was Fox. Kung Eesssa, the legendary Betelgeuse Planet Devouress had centuries worth of experience conducting wars of all scales and could have moved the Geckho military officer with her indisputable Authority. But the Morphian vanished as soon as the test in the arena was over and I had yet to see her again. She just tossed out a couple sentences in parting, saying she would find me when the time came to fulfill my promise and she needed my help. The Morphian then melted into a crowd of thousands, most likely preparing to leave the planet on one of the many departing starships if she had not done so already. Some of the wedding guests had already left Earth, while combat shuttles were regularly flitting back and forth, so it was highly likely Fox had already made it far away from planet Earth.

Fame increased to 110.

Authority increased to 114!

Such game messages had become commonplace recently and I wouldn’t have paid them particular attention if not for the text that followed:

ATTENTION!!! Free Captain Kung Gnat has been removed from the list of enemies of the Meleyephatian Horde. The Horde’s opinion of you has improved to the level of Neutral. Free Captain Kung Gnat may once again travel through Meleyephatian Horde space. Access to space stations and planets belonging to the Meleyephatians and all their vassals is once again unrestricted!

Now that didn’t make a lick of sense... After everything I had done in the recent past – summoning an armada from another galaxy to attack the Meleyephatians and assembling the Army of Earth to go to war with the Horde – the very last thing I was expecting was for them to suddenly warm up to me. Or was this not to do with me at all? Perhaps the Horde was calling on Free Captains from throughout the galaxy to aid them in the war against their dangerous new enemy or at least offering to pay for help regardless of one’s past and offering full amnesty. After all, the Meleyephatians probably needed a huge number of starships for conducting space battles, evacuating players from the systems under attack, and transporting cargo and troops.

That was the theory preferred by my personal assistant Gerd Ayni as well, who had also seen a similar message much to her own surprise. The Miyelonian assumed the Horde’s affairs must have been going very poorly given they had fallen back on such extreme measures. Or had they come to a general resolution to summon Free Captains, and would later be making corrections and crossing out enemies that had been invited? In any case, my orange Translator figured there was no reason to hurry to Horde space and, in that regard, I stood in complete solidarity.

Free Captain Kung Gnat is requested to go to the long-distance comms room! a voice message came rolling down the dispatcher tower corridors, making me shudder.

I didn’t wait around for the elevator and hurried up the spiral staircase. Meanwhile, the thoughts were racing around my head in a frenzy. Could this be someone from the Meleyephatian Horde wanting to talk to me and explain the strange jumps in my reputation? Was it even possible to communicate unimpeded with a hostile state in the midst of a bloody space war? And could it possibly backfire on me to have contact with our suzerains’ adversary?

I was wrong though. I was merely getting a call from Krong Daveyesh-Pir, ruler of the Geckho race. I instantly fell to one knee and bowed my head respectfully before the high and mighty figure. But I must not have done so quickly enough, or a slight look of disappointment showed on my face because the huge Geckho rumbled out menacingly:

What, Human? Expecting to see someone else?

The question wasn’t as simple as it seemed, and I needed to think up a plausible explanation for my behavior quickly so I wouldn’t seem insufficiently loyal.

I beg forgiveness, my lord. I have indeed been expecting a call from someone else for a few ummi, which is why I experienced a moment of confusion. A member of my crew, a woman who is dear to my heart by the name of Valeri-Urla. She left my ship unexpectedly and where she has gone, I do not know. An influential relative of my business partner Gerd Uline Tar promised to figure out where the Human woman went and tell me.

The huge Geckho gave a loud growl through his teeth but it wasn’t malicious at all. In fact it was approving and even contained notes of happiness.

Ah, youth... I understand. I was the same way when I was chasing my headstrong second wife all around the galaxy, boarding her starship over and over again. I could help you look if you can’t find this beautiful shrew on your own.

Thank you for the offer, my lord, but it would be... too much or something. Like using thermonuclear warheads to hunt quail.

The Geckho liked my response and gave another satisfied rumble.

Alright, if you say so, Human. But I have come to you for a different reason. I have been told that you completed my assignment. Ahead of schedule even. Well, I value loyal and trustworthy go-getters like you, so my reward will be generous. The choice is yours. Would you prefer a star cruiser so your ship will match your newly elevated status as Kung, or two planetary shield generators for Earth?

For the time being, I had no need for another ship – I had no one to crew it, and a cruiser wouldn’t be able to fit beneath the mobile Relict laboratory’s camouflage field and thus could not travel with it through the Universe. But defensive field generators? How did the great Krong Daveyesh-Pir know exactly what I needed? I was not brave enough to ask that question aloud.

The ruler, clearly delighted by my surprise, snarled out happily:

It would have been hard not to notice superconductor circuits, high-capacity energy storage, polyfrequency emitters, powerful generators and the load-bearing elements needed to construct planetary shields all starting to disappear from the market in this sector of the galaxy while a string of freighters lined up orbiting your home planet. Well, it’s a fine initiative and I am perfectly happy to support a trusty Geckho vassal complete such a noble endeavor. The generators will be delivered unassembled as soon as possible and even unloaded at whatever point on your planet your Engineers specify.

Amazing! That made providing for Earth’s defense significantly easier because now we only had to scrounge up seven more of the twelve expensive and quite hard to assemble generators rather than nine. I would designate where to install them and find the specialists required to assemble and service them. Either from my Relict Faction or one of the many other terrestrial factions. I could even pressure the leaders of the terrestrial factions into helping me find the perfect staff. At the end of the day, was I Kung of Earth or what?!

For some reason, the suzerain leader’s generosity put me on guard though. Two planetary shield generators were worth around a hundred fifty million Geckho crystals. Even without having to pay for delivery, that came to eighty-five or ninety million monetary crystals. Even for a Krong, that was a substantial sum of money to just go throwing around as gratitude for a job well done. And as a matter of fact, the next few words out of the suzerain leader’s mouth proved that my doubts and worries were not misplaced.

But now, Gnat, I want to discuss more important matters. Tell me, Human, why has the Relict space tech in your possession not yet been delivered to your suzerains’ specialists for study? Is that not your express duty as a member of a vassal race?

Danger Sense skill increased to level one hundred forty-two!

How hard it is to always be talking with the Geckho Krong... I could just never get used to his wild mood swings. Just one minute ago, the ruler was heaping on gratitude for my loyal service and giving me generous gifts but now, with steel in his voice, he was demanding more out of me and clearly prepared to punish me severely for disobedience. But to give him the laboratory... No way. I needed it for myself! I started my response by carefully selecting my words with an understanding that no one would be testing them for plausibility. No, no lies. Such an experienced individual would see