Assur found that he was panting and sweating again. He groaned as he got up and staggered to the bathroom. He splashed his face with water and then removed his nightclothes. He stepped into the shower stall, blasting himself with icy water. He groaned and put his forehead against the tiles, panting as the cold water hammered his aged body. He shivered, waiting for another spasm in his gut. Fortunately, it did not return.

  He was thankful for that. He endured the icy shower until he shivered uncontrollably. Then he turned off the water, toweled himself dry, not bothering to put on the sweaty nightclothes. He returned to his room and sat naked in a cushioned chair.

  He sat because he knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep again. He often had trouble sleeping. He was grateful for the few hours he could snatch. He desperately needed them.

  This new problem—

  No, no, Assur told himself. He could not let Baal take his place. The Chess Master Naram Sin—

  Assur shook his head more forcibly.

  Naram Sin was logical and had great mental acuity. But the youth lacked the needed ruthlessness to conquer another race. The Valiants were trying to supplant an entire species, the former apex predators in this solar system. They did so in order that the Valiants would grow and be ready when the Vims showed up. The Valiants would crush the Vims this time. That would be the start of the great resurgence of the Valiants throughout this part of the spiral arm.

  “I am the architect of the turnaround,” Assur said. “Me, it’s all up to me. No one else has the balls…” he reached down and fondled his balls.

  He could sire children if he wanted. He thought back to the dream of his first wife. If only she was here—but she wasn’t. They were gone, all gone. His mother was gone, too. He had killed her because religious mania had turned her unstable and untrustworthy of the great plan.

  Was the matricide why he had these pains in his stomach, the onset of perhaps of a terminal illness? Was this punishment for murder?

  He could undergo shock therapies, but that would drain him and leave him weak, a wreck. He would no longer be Chief Marshal of the colony. Someone would surely usurp him as he had done to the bald, brutal Chief Marshal back on the Akkad when it had still been traveling through deep space. He had taken a ceremonial dagger smeared with contact poison from a pillow and slain him. Who would try to do that to him?

  “Not you, Baal,” Assur said under his breath. “You are not going to usurp me. It is time for…”

  Yes, Assur realized it was time to take care of business.

  He had been waiting for some sign from the universe. The old gods—in public he said he believed in them. They were his mandate from Heaven, as it were, backing up his right to rule. But Assur did not believe the old gods were spiritual entities guiding the Valiants. That was foolish and silly thinking, not his way.

  That had been the root of his mother’s demise. She had once been so rational...

  Assur shook his head. Queen Ningal was gone. There was no afterlife, no spirit. This was all. That meant he needed to make a name for himself while he still could.

  “My name must ring through the ages,” Assur said under his breath. “I will be the father of the Valiants that will stand supreme, athwart the galaxy.”

  First, he had to obliterate the Earthers.

  “Tomorrow I will send a message to Sardu. It is long overdue for me to speak to that sly, old Spymaster.”

  With the decision made, Assur stood on shaky legs, returning to his bed. He lay down, pulled up the blanket, and closed his eyes. After a short time, he was asleep. It would all begin tomorrow.

  -6-

  The next day, after taking a shuttle into low Titan orbit and boarding the Corsair, Assur donned his Chief Marshal uniform and hat. He then sat at his desk in a specially prepared room. He activated a communication device capable of reaching the Enkidu, the flagship of the invasion fleet. The message would be encoded and sent to Sardu, the former Security Chief.

  Since the invasion fleet was still a month and a half away, Assur did not wish to engage in direct, back-and-forth communication with Sardu. He hated the delays distance caused. He would send a brief monologue, telling Sardu what to do.

  Once, old Sardu had been his Security Chief on the Titan colony, in charge of morale, internal spies, and security in its various forms. He had sent Sardu with the invasion fleet to keep watch over Baal and Naram Sin. Could any of them have corrupted Sardu during that time?

  It was possible. Much was possible. Assur had maintained power all these decades because he dared to confront bad news and challenge it directly.

  On the flip side, Assur had heard good news about Earth from the intercept team—they monitored TV and other transmissions. The Earthers fought amongst themselves, even using nuclear devices against each other.

  What weak, small fools Earthmen were. Could you imagine? The chaos on the planet showed the special strength of the Valiants: unity.

  The pinnacle of unity is me.

  Yes, Assur was why the Valiants had done so well, beating back every Earther onslaught sent against the colony. If he had been with the invasion fleet at the Moon—

  Assur sighed. He had originally planned to go, but he might not have retained sole power in the Saturn system if he had. Even so, he would have shattered the enemy fleet, swept the orbital stations from low Earth orbit, and started smashing Earth with mass-driver launched Moon rocks.

  Instead, incredibly, the Earthers were doing much of that for him by fighting against each other.

  Assur shook his head, placed his hands on the desk, and looked at the screen. It was time to formulate the message.

  He composed himself, and turned on the recorder: “Security Chief Sardu,” he began, “it has been some time since we have had direct communication. I am glad, old friend, that you are almost back home. I need your skills for a few knotty problems here. However, rest assured that my power base is still strong and loyal. The colony is brimming with excitement about what is going to take place soon when our ships unite into one glorious, invincible fleet, which includes three mobile asteroids I have prepared.

  “With that said, I am afraid I have a hard task for you, old friend. I sent you with the invasion fleet because you were the only one I could trust for such a delicate mission. I trust you deeply indeed, old friend. Rest assured, I would say this to no one else.”

  Assur cast a stern glance at the screen.

  “Marshal Baal must not arrive home alive. I want you to take care of that, and I want you to do it quietly. An unfortunate accident might be the best method. You know the way. You have the personnel, but most of all, you have the skill and ruthlessness I need in this delicate situation.

  “You must destroy this message after listening to it. As for the Chess Master—I leave that to your discretion. Baal is older and has gained credence among many here, mainly because of his decision to leave the Moon. That astounds me, but you know the weakness and softness of some people. It is we warhorses in harness, old friend, who know what to do, making the hard decisions and doing the hard deeds.”

  Assur nodded.

  “It will be good to have you back again. I look forward to hearing the true events of what transpired around Luna and in the fleet. I hope to learn every detail, every facet. I know you have a mind like a steel trap, you old war dog.

  “Sardu, we will have drinking parties, and we’ll take the women and rejoice after we have destroyed Earth and its menace. For now, we need strict unity. I’m sure you’ve seen some of the coverage of what takes place on Earth in your absence. That is what our unity helps avoid for the colony.”

  Assur thumped his chest. “I am the symbol of unity for the Valiants. I know you know this, but I say it to certify that I am well and fit, ready for the last great battle that gives us supremacy in the solar system.”

  Assur raised his hand and waggled a finger.

  “Marshal Baal is a problem. He did not do as I wished. Instead of fighting to the finish, he retreated. It’s true I’ll be able to use those three Enforcers of his. From what I’m viewing now about Earth, we could win this battle with just our six Enforcers. But we will bring the mobile asteroids with us. We will finish this war, concluding it with grim finality.

  “Do not fail me with Baal, old friend. I hesitate to even speak that way to you, because I know your heart is solid, beating with the vibrancy of a true Valiant who knows his task. A further word regarding the so-called Chess Master. If you feel he will attempt to thwart the great endeavor, then take care of him, too. I give you this message in full trust and belief in your cunning.

  “Welcome home, Chief of Security Sardu. This is Chief Marshal Assur, out.”

  Assur clicked the recorder, then sat back. He felt the faintest rumble in his gut. Was that a sign? Could Sardu not be the old war dog of yore? Should Sardu not have his full trust?

  Assur had lied, or stated a falsehood in one particular. Sardu would not be Chief of Security again. Assur trusted another more. But there was no need for Sardu to hear that now. It might bring bitterness to the old man. He needed Sardu to do this one last act, and then keep his lips sealed about it.

  Assur would review the message, make a few corrections if needed, and send it. Once he sent it, the die would be cast.

  This was glorious. A great adventure was about to begin. If only his gut would remain placid, giving him time to achieve the great conquest.

  -7-

  On the Enforcer Enkidu, the former aide, Naram Sin, now known to many as the Chess Master, sat at a chess table in a large room filled with other chess tables and people. He sat across from the short and stocky space marine, Group Leader Tiglath. Tiglath had done well in the Luna campaign, even though the overall campaign had turned into a draw.

  The two played chess, the Earth game a smashing hit among the Valiants. The intercept team had first learned of it and then disseminated chess pieces and rules throughout the Titan colony.

  Naram Sin was big even for a Valiant, standing over seven and a half feet tall. He was currently seated at a table. He was also strong, even though he rarely used the gym. It was natural strength. He also had a large head and was considered by many to be the smartest Valiant in the colony. As a chess player, he was unbeatable, and he had been improving throughout the entire campaign.

  It had taken thirteen months to go from the Titan colony in the Saturn system to Luna in the Earth system. It was taking another thirteen months to return home. That didn’t include the time they had spent on the Moon.

  Six more weeks and the invasion fleet would park in low Titan orbit. The ships had already started light braking. Soon the heavy braking would begin. They would have to stop the chess matches in the room, as the pseudo-gravity from intense braking would make it uncomfortable for everyone.

  Valiants were strong, far stronger than the Earthers. They were also much taller, with longer limbs. Their length made torsion more difficult, straining them under prolonged two or even three Gs.

  Tiglath played his best, but he was no match for the Chess Master. Still, Tiglath was good-natured about it. They were bosom friends.

  During the campaign, most in the flagship had become friends or comrades, and that included Marshal Baal. The others had once considered Baal an arrogant fool at best. Ever since he made the grand decision to retreat from the Moon after the mass drivers were destroyed, respect for him had grown. Furthermore, Baal had taken hints from Naram Sin, applying them. That had also increased his standing among the crews of the three Enforcer-class vessels and auxiliary ships following them.

  They had already made the gravity assist around Jupiter months ago. Now they were coming home. What awaited them there? Naram Sin thought about that even as he moved chess pieces.

  Naram Sin happened to look up and saw the old Spymaster Sardu standing meekly, watching the game.

  Sardu was a bald, older, cranky individual, but he was known as thorough. He wore his old black uniform, which was always rumpled.

  “May I have a moment of your time, sir?” Sardu asked.

  Once, Naram Sin would have been astounded that someone like Sardu could call him sir. Now, everyone knew him as the Chess Master, as if it was his own special title and rank. The respect had become a heady drug to Naram Sin. He found he liked it, and had begun to wonder lately, who should rule the Valiants but for the smartest and wisest among them? In the past, he would have hesitated to call himself the wisest. But after endless months of making the right decisions every time when no one could gainsay him… maybe that had inflated his ego just a little. Once, he had been the one Valiant who lacked an ego. Perhaps that was what made him wise, that he knew the possibility of ego residing in him.

  “What can I do for you, Sardu?” Naram Sin asked. “Take a seat and watch, if you wish.”

  “No, lord,” Sardu said. “I would like to speak to you privately, if it is possible.”

  Naram Sin raised his eyebrows at Tiglath.

  Tiglath shrugged, asking, “Do you want to save this game?”

  Naram Sin looked at the board. “No.” He turned to Sardu. “Bide a moment, this won’t take long.”

  Naram Sin made his next move.

  Tiglath frowned and made his counter move.

  Naram Sin began to move the pieces with greater speed than before. After several swift exchanges, Naram Sin caged Tiglath’s king. The Chess Master had been going easy on his friend. Not any longer. The trap had snapped shut.

  “Checkmate,” Naram Sin said.

  Tiglath looked up at him, frowning. “Would you have beaten me this quickly if Sardu hadn’t shown up?”

  “Does that make any difference?” Naram Sin asked.

  “Yes,” Tiglath said. “I don’t want you to go easy on me. I want you to play your best against me.”

  “If you wish.” Naram Sin stood and nodded. “If you would excuse me, my friend.”

  “Yes,” Tiglath said, frowning, his chin in his hands as he regarded the board, his eyes roving over the pieces, perhaps trying to pierce what had happened to change the game so quickly.

  Naram Sin smirked to himself as he followed Sardu down the corridors. They soon arrived at the old Spymaster’s quarters, entering, with the bald Valiant turning to him.

  “I have received a grim message, sir,” Sardu said. “I do not know what I should do about it.”

  “Oh?” Naram Sin said.

  “It’s a message from Titan, from the Chief Marshal.”

  “Really,” Naram Sin said. “Does anyone else know about this?”

  “No. It was directed to me under tight security procedures.”

  “And you are telling me about this why?” Naram Sin asked.

  “I think I must. You see, the Chief Marshal lied to me. He said I would be the new Chief Marshal, or the old one reinstated. But I know that he has put my nemesis into my old spot. I doubt that one will allow himself to be replaced so easily by me.”

  “Oh,” Naram Sin said, understanding that Sardu was making power calculations. This was a dangerously critical moment. It was time to put on his mask, not of command, but of the counselor to the commander. “Please continue,” Naram Sin said.

  Sardu showed him the full message the Chief Marshal had sent, replaying it on a screen. Naram Sin listened closely, raising his eyebrows several times. He particularly noticed the times pain briefly crossed Assur’s face and how he’d spoken about his strength and health once too often. Had Sardu noticed that?

  Naram Sin understood that he noticed more than others did. Was that part of his gift?

  Finally, the message finished.

  “Now I am going to delete it,” Sardu said.

  Naram Sin almost asked him not to, that they could use this against the Chief Marshal later. Instead, Naram Sin nodded his assent.

  Sardu pressed a button. The message was erased. However, it wasn’t erased from Naram Sin’s keen mind.

  “What do you plan to do?” Naram Sin asked.

  Sardu sat down; he was not the man he had been when they left Titan. That had been almost three years ago. The journey had aged him, and the retreat had aged him even more. There was still cunning in his rheumy eyes, though.

  “I don’t want to kill Marshal Baal,” Sardu said. “I’m not joining the Chief Marshal’s side this time. Unfortunately, Baal lacks the cunning to stand against Assur.”

  “You think so?” Naram Sin said.

  “No, don’t toy with me, sir—like you just did with Tiglath.”

  Naram Sin was surprised. “You believe I toyed with him?”

  “You obviously did,” Sardu said. “And if you—never mind.”

  “No, no,” Naram Sin said. “What were you going to say?”

  After a moment, Sardu nodded. “A word of caution: do not toy with Group Leader Tiglath. He is proud despite his prostrations of friendship with you.”

  Naram Sin colored for just a moment. How dare this old Spymaster tell him that? A second later, Naram Sin mentally checked himself. That was not the way to think. A wise man took suggestions.

  “Thank you. I will take that into consideration,” Naram Sin said.

  Sardu eyed him speculatively for just a moment. “Regarding your question… yes. Baal should live. We need to support him.”

  “You changed your mind just now,” Naram Sin said. “Ah, you didn’t think I took your advice about Tiglath the way I should have.”

  “You’re quick and smart, sir. But you have changed, whether you know it or not.”

  “How have I changed?”

  “Power changes all of us,” Sardu said. “I remember you saying that you had read an Earthman who said, ‘Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.’ I’ve wondered about that ever since. You have tasted power.”

  “And you think it has corrupted me?”

  “It has changed you, sir.”

  Naram Sin pondered that. He needed time to think, but he also knew what Sardu wanted to hear. “Yes, perhaps this power is corrupting me in ways I hadn’t noticed. I wonder if I’ve been lying to myself.”