KrallZone — Simon Fox

The mighty space-fleets of the Partnership and the KrallZone make war in the Asteroid Sea. The victor will be the supreme power in the Isskan star system ... KRALLZONE is Part 4 of THE FIRSTLORD CHRONICLES, a cutting-edge series of Kindle hard-core science-fiction novels by Simon Fox. The series is centred on Isska, a planet inhabited by a humanoid species locked in an ancient inter-racial conflict. Will the Isskans destroy their world through ceaseless warfare, or will they achieve their interstellar destiny?



CHAPTER 1



“Will there be war?” asked Leenesh with an anxious frown.



Her husband and her son, alike in so many ways, sighed simultaneously.



“It might come to that,” answered Jaddra, glancing at his wife, who sat at the opposite end of a long sofa.



“I'd hoped and prayed we'd never see war again,” she said, her voice sorrowful.



“The Kralls can't really WANT a war,” said Hezzkal, pacing about the room. “Despite their advanced technologies, they could never defeat the Partnership �" we're still stronger than them in every way.”



“True,” replied Jaddra, “but things have got very tense out there in the Asteroid Sea. Someone somewhere could lose his nerve at any time and start firing.”



“And if that happened, would there be fighting here on Isska too?” asked Leenesh.



“We'll do everything we can to stop it,” replied Hezzkal. “We won't fire first, but the Kralls are unpredictable.”



All three of them were silent for a moment, contemplating the ugly prospect of another war.



“Well, I'm not going to let it spoil my day!” declared Leenesh with determination. “I'm flying down to Shimell to have lunch with Sherrafenn.” She stood up.



She was dressed in a loose-fitting white embroidered shirt with matching trousers. Her magnificent dark-red hair, decorated with a dozen golden clasps, reached all the way down to her elegant waist. Now well into her forties, she was still breathtakingly beautiful.



“Give Sherrafenn my love,” said Hezzkal. Sherrafenn Imshoon, the highly revered spiritual leader of Varradenn, also happened to be his mother-in-law.



“And if the world blows up while you're gone, we'll give you a call,” added Jaddra with a smile, getting to his feet.



He kissed her, and so did Hezzkal.



She studied the two of them for a very brief moment, her love for the two men in her life showing clearly in her golden eyes.



“See you both tonight,” she said, her long red tresses flaming behind her as she left the room.



Jaddra looked at his son, a glint of fatherly pride in his eyes. “Are you ready, Hezz?”

“Yes, Dad �" as ready as I'll ever be!”



Father and son left the room together and made their way down to the palace's landing site. Awaiting them was a skyship, its engine humming in readiness.

Beside it waited a squad of young Bodyguards in scarlet uniforms, armed with ceremonial batons. They saluted the two FirstLords, thumping their right fists against their chests.



Standing with them was their commander, Hannsto Vallmar. He bowed to Jaddra and Hezzkal.



“Good morning, my Lords,” he said, in a manner that was respectful but also familiar. He and Jaddra had been friends all their lives, and he had known Hezzkal since the day of his birth. “The Supreme Council and the People's Assembly await you.”



They all boarded the ship, which swiftly flew them to the brand-new Hall of Gathering in the centre of the Old City, just a stone's throw from the Temple of Zarrva (which now served as a museum).



Having entered the Hall �" a broad marble-floored circular chamber with walls of blue-tinted glass �" Jaddra and Hezzkal sat on twin thrones facing the representatives of the Xunnish people. The two FirstLords wore identical scarlet uniforms. Physically, Hezzkal closely resembled his father �" tall, broad-shouldered, short red hair and beard �" but the two men differed in temperament. Hezzkal was less of a scholar than his father and more a man of action ...