Redeemer: A Military Space Opera Series (War Undying Book 2)

by N. D. Redding

  “Why do you call it Old Earth? Is there a new Earth?”

  She was at a loss for words and I realized she had outed herself. They called their own planet Earth probably, or New Earth even. When she refused to reply I skipped to the next question.

  “What do your Aloi friends say about the Ka? What is it that the Ka want?”

  “What you are too blind to see. They want to dominate the galaxy.”

  “Could be, but what about the Aloi? They already control half the galaxy and they keep expanding. How are they different?”

  “They are.”

  I realized the conversation wasn’t going to get any further so I stopped. I thanked her for her time and left together with Arthur and Fars, but just as the door closed behind us I had to ask Arthur.

  “Have you ever heard of anything like this? A race living autonomously within the Aloi Hegemony?”

  Arthur thought for a moment before he spoke.

  “There were always thoughts of empathy circling the Aloi collective mind, but they were heavily suppressed.”

  “Suppressed how?”

  “Suppressed by fear, Stavos. The Aloi are a frightful people and it is because of the fear that we have grown merciless.”

  “Was there any indication that things would change before you were separated?”

  “I told you, there were always thoughts begging for mercy and compassion. But you know, those thoughts had existed eons before my birth and there wasn’t the slightest of signs they would have any effect on the Hegemony.”

  We spoke no more of this and went our ways, but I could see the discomfort in Arthur’s face. Perhaps his people had changed in his absence, perhaps they weren’t the monsters that the Federation portrayed them to be. In the end, whether they had changed or not meant very little to the trillions of dead, enslaved, and abused. They sure as hell wouldn’t forgive their tyrant conquerors, and neither would I.

  Four days later, we were begging the universe to send the Aloi fleet so we could die in a fight before we died of hunger. Six days later, there was silence aboard the Tanaree. Everyone was in their own quarters killing time on an empty stomach. We had realized that socializing during this time would only increase our chances of murdering each other.

  On the eighth day, Mitto woke me from an afternoon nap by sounding all the ship alarms at once, almost deafening me with it. I ran to the bridge and jumped into my chair; the rest of the crew was already at their weapons consoles.

  “Mitto, talk to me!”

  “Aloi signature ship entered the system. It’s a big one.”

  “Ship? Did you mean ships?”

  “No, boss, it’s one ship. It’s coming our way, and by the size of it, it’s probably a Crusader-class battleship.”

  “It’s a test; they want to see how we’ll react to one ship, and if we prove weak enough, they’ll call in the rest,” I said with my eyes locked on the radar.

  “They sure as hell overestimate our abilities. Stick to the plan and as soon as the Crusader is in range, full speed ahead with weapons ready to bore a hole through the hull. Let’s meet them halfway.”

  No one said anything, but they knew what was at stake now. They wouldn’t waste any energy on useless banter. Whatever energy we had, we were keeping it for the fight.

  Within the hour, the Crusader-class ship was in visual range of our scopes and we were able to get a better reading than before.

  “Are you sure this is a Crusader?” I asked because as the ship came closer, the silhouette seemed just off. Crusader ships were pyramidal and easily distinguished on the battlefield. This ship, however, was elongated and round taking on the shape of a cylinder with a smooth top as the bow. I knew that shape like the back of my hand.

  “That’s not a Crusader, that’s a fucking Federation Star-Eater.”

  Fars jumped up from his console.

  “Federation ship? That’s what I call luck!”

  “It has Aloi markings, Fars. I don’t think we are that lucky. This sure as hell smells like a trap. Keep our distance and scan the system for more entry points. The rest of the Aloi fleet must be close.”

  “So, no ramming?”

  “No.”

  “Oh, thank you, boss. I hated that idea,” Mitto said.

  “Keep the distance, they mustn’t get too close. There’s a reason they’re using a Federation ship. They’ve been expecting a stranded Ka so they won’t use standard strategy.”

  This changed everything. I was in the dark. It was hard to be one step ahead when you had no idea what the other party even was. For all we knew, it could be a Ka or an Aloi hivemind.

  “Captain, they’re hailing us.”

  “More trickery from the hellspawn,” Vogron said.

  “Those aren’t your hellspawn, Vogron,” Arthur replied.

  “What do you think it is, Arthur? Can you sense Aloi aboard?”

  “No, there’s no Aloi on that ship.”

  “What the hell is going on?” I said slamming my fist on the armrest.

  “Captain, do we respond?”

  I turned to Arthur, but he just shrugged.

  “Vogron? Fars? Any ideas?”

  “Cut the transmission and execute the plan, if they’re not Aloi, they won’t know what hit them. This is what we’ve been hoping for, Richard Stavos,” Fars said, and he made a lot of sense. This wasn’t an Aloi ship—it was alone—but it was also a complete mindfuck.

  “The Eres is right. We attack now, get our detrium, and piss off from this forsaken void. It’s the only reasonable thing to do,” Vogron said.

  “Captain, they have their weapons pointed at us and ready to go. I don’t think we have what it takes to fight this Crusader.”

  “It’s not a Crusader,” I muttered under my breath.

  All eyes were on me, everyone agreed we should attack but Vogron and Fars were easy on the trigger, and their advice, no matter how sound, was often just a path of bloodshed.

  “Boss?”

  “Put them on the screen.”

  “You can’t do that!” Vogron protested and Fars chimed in, but I didn’t listen to them. For the second time in less than a month, a human face appeared where it shouldn’t have. But unlike the militaristic Dusk Ascendancy, the uniform of this individual was something even weirder. It wasn’t so much a uniform as it was a green ceremonial garment with exotic markings and jewelry. The man’s face was a mask of tattoos and there wasn’t a single hair on his head. A tall collar reached beyond the height of his head and made him look like a wizard from a children’s tale.

  “Unidentified ship, turn off your weapons, or we’ll be forced to shoot,” the man said and I could see in his eyes that he wasn’t expecting to see a human either.

  “I could say the same to you,” I replied and did my best not to show any weakness.

  The man paused for a second and looked to the side as if listening to someone speaking off-screen before he spoke to me again.

  “We significantly outgun you; any fighting will result in terrible losses for your side.”

  “How about you first tell me who the hell you people even are, then we can discuss terms.”

  The man went silent again and looked around as if waiting for an order.

  “This is the Redeemer, the capital ship of the Shattered Light. We answer only to the word of the Hallowed and the call of truth. Now shut down your weapons and explain yourself. We have registered a Ka signature in this system. If you’re harboring a Ka, you will be destroyed.”

  I cut the transmission and turned to my crew.

  “Anyone ever heard of these freaks?”

  Nobody had an answer, none but the same old.

  “Stavos, I beg you! Let us go out in a blaze of glory! Let us die with pride!” Fars pleaded. No one joined in on his plea, though. They understood we were in up to our necks, yet again.

  “There are no Ka on our ship,” I said, turning the screen back on. “We have bounced our signal off the star and faked the signature t
o try and attract any federation vessel.”

  “What the hell, Stavos!” Fars screamed. I gave him the evil eye but Fars was already off his console and walking around angrily, flailing his fists in the air.

  “Human of the unidentified ship, are you perhaps Richard Stavos, Lieutenant of the Federation forces?”

  I was caught unprepared for this one. Fucking Fars outing me like that was another minus for him in my book and I would need to think of a way to keep him off the bridge. He was the man to go to for if you wanted someone dead, but he sucked with about anything else.

  “Sir, the Hallowed would like to talk to you.”

  “Sure, let me hear him,” I said not knowing what to expect.

  These guys had a very fanatically religious vibe which I generally thought meant dangerous idiotism. My jaw almost dropped when the Hallowed came into view. He, too, was a man of a bold hairstyle and two long, identical tattooed markings on each side of his face. Holographic lights were swirling around his face and it looked like his head was a star around which planets revolved. It was incredibly over the top, but despite all the fanfare, I could clearly recognize who the Hallowed truly was.

  “Is it really you?” the Hallowed asked with a wide smile.

  “Is it really you?” I replied in turn as my face turned into a grin.

  “Richard Stavos, you are one persistent man.”

  “Leo Madrigo, where the hell have you been?”

  17

  In our yearning to somehow acquire the completed library of galactic wisdom, humankind slid back into the security of theistic authority. When godlike beings finally came in the form of the Ka and we saw them for what they truly were, we abandoned our pointless quest for the tree of knowledge; for if the gods themselves didn’t wield it, what purpose could one find in knowledge?

  Simon K. Ladien, Philosopher Laurate

  There were seven men and women on each side of Leo Madrigo. They were the so-called Hallowed of the Shattered Light cult. They were dressed in green, white, and gold, not unlike the Aloi I found at Detera almost eight years ago. The path that led to Leo was covered with a red velvet carpet strewn with what looked like flower petals. The young man at the bar on Persei Prime who couldn’t hold his drink now commanded a battleship full of devout believers. I had no idea what it was they believed in, and that’s what worried me.

  They greeted us in a giant white room that was against all military regulations. It looked more like a cathedral than a battleship. The air was scented with incense-like vapor that slowly rose from tall black obelisks. At the head of the enormous hall sat Leo in all his grandeur. He seemed to have aged a hundred years, but as I came closer it was evident Leo was still a fairly young man, a decade younger than I was for sure.

  I stood there in my Fyre Armor with Arthur, Vogron, and Fars at my sides. Leo’s congregation looked at us with a very healthy dose of skepticism, maybe even resentment, but in Leo’s eyes, there was nothing but joy.

  “Do I bow or kneel, or can I just shake your hand?” I asked, not betraying any emotion until I saw what he was up to.

  “Stavos. How have you been, my friend?” Leo said, ignoring my question and getting up from his seat.

  He was clad in a long thick robe that reminded me of the ridiculous clothing religious leaders from ancient times used to wear. Only even more ridiculous since we were now a spacefaring species. Some things never changed, I guessed.

  “I’ve been worse,” I said smiling.

  “I’m sure you have. My friends, sisters, and brothers... this man saved my life more times than I can count during a previous life. He was not only my superior, but he was also a friend and a mentor.”

  I raised an eyebrow at this and turned to Fars. See that? That’s how my normal friends think of me you giant-breathing-and-walking pain in my ass.

  “And these are his friends. They are all welcome among us for we don’t discriminate, we don’t judge, and we only accept those whose hearts are purified by love.”

  Just as I dared to think Leo was in this whole thing by some grotesque turn of fate, I realized that he wasn’t some imposter pretending to be a cult leader. He seemed really into being a cult leader.

  “Thank you for your kind words, Leo. I’m glad you think of me so fondly.” I had no idea what I was even spouting, but this place was as dangerous as the bowels of an Aloi battleship. Religion and a warped sense of belief never went well together.

  “Who are your friends?”

  I turned back to face my crew and introduced them.

  “This is Fars of the Eres. He’s been with me since I ended in Xan. He is proud as all Eres are. The Jareet to his left is named Dumbface and he’s a very capable strategist. The last one”—I noticed everyone’s eyes turning to the Templar, expecting some grand revelation, but it would never come—“is Arthur.”

  I kept Vogron’s name out of the mix. I didn’t know if I could trust Leo yet. The changes he underwent were too radical and the whole situation too confusing. Who knew what we could expect?

  “Do you see this, friends? There is a reason we have found my old mentor, and there is a reason he stands here with a pure Aloi mind. The path of light unfolds itself before our eyes. You carry a wounded body, Arthur of the Aloi. We can help with that.”

  “I’m good, thanks, friend of Stavos,” Arthur said, declining the offer.

  “Interesting,” Leo replied as he studied the Aloi, but decided not to dwell on it. “Come. You must be hungry for everything. Let’s feast and celebrate. This is a beautiful day.”

  “Leo, before we do that,” I said and immediately noticed the death stare around me. They didn’t like me calling their Hallowed by his former name. “Before we engage in any festivities, you should know we are wanted fugitives. We’ve done some bad things in this sector to survive, and though we faked our signal, it’s only a matter of time before someone else appears here.”

  “Don’t worry, Richard. We have everything under control,” Leo said, never losing his smile.

  “Yeah, about that. Your ship is impressive and all, and I bet it can deliver some serious damage, but there’s like three fleets on our tail so—”

  “Richard Stavos, will you stop worrying? Come, you look famished. Let us celebrate!”

  I couldn’t have declined even if I had wanted to. It was his ship, his crew, and his religious congregation. I didn’t like the idea of spending more time in this sector though, and was anxious to get the hell out of dodge.

  “Before we go feat, I need to know—”

  “Richard, I’ll answer all your questions in due time. Please, don’t be so hasty.”

  “Leo, don’t be so cruel,” I whispered, trying to speak just loud enough so only he could hear it. “I know you know.”

  For the slightest of moments, Leo’s grin vanished and his expression became solemn. “I suppose I do.”

  “Leo, where is she?”

  He sprung his perfect white teeth at me yet again and cheered.

  “Let’s celebrate! There will never be another day like today!”

  “Leo!” I hissed this time.

  The stares his congregation gave me turned into very aggressive looks. These people were ready to kill, which threw a shadow on their probable joyful worldview.

  “It’s all right, everyone. Richard and I share a history and love for the people in our lives. It is only natural he should inquire about our common friend,” he said so the others could hear and then lowered his voice. “Layla died, Richard. She died on Zaria III. I’m sorry.”

  I realized I had been an asshole. Leo and Layla were much closer than I was with Layla, but she’d been in my care. On the other side, the two of them were comrades, brothers in arms, and I suspected that they took their relationship even further. And there I was screaming at Leo in front of all his people.

  “I’m sorry, Leo. I’m sorry for everything.”

  “We don’t live just so we can live, Richard. We don’t live just so we can die. We also
die so we can live,” he said, and I think everyone present felt the words, myself included.

  “All right then,” I said, taking in a deep breath and putting on a smile. “Let’s celebrate!”

  It felt only as if several seconds passed before I saw Arthur standing on a table with strings of brown food in his right hand, a gallon of some purple intoxicant in the other, and screaming his heart out to some horrible Aloi song. The faces around him seemed to watch in complete horror as this went on, which was good for Vogron and Fars because their eating habits were beyond disgusting.

  I sat down across from Leo and while we talked about a lot of things, most of it was about my time in Xan and his time after Zaria III. The one thing we both consciously ignored was Layla’s death.

  Leo explained to me what happened on Zaria III. I already knew that the campaign had to be a terrible disaster, but I had no idea how much of a disaster it truly was. The Imminy had pulled almost the entirety of human military forces toward Zaria III. Those were eight fleets, almost ten thousand ships of all sizes and markings, counting over thirty million troops and navy personnel. It was a chance for humankind to prove its worth to the Federation. To show all the other races like the Imminy, the Eres, the Takkari, and others that mankind was a force to be reckoned with. The plan was to deliver one single devastating blow to the Aloi forces on Zaria III and take the planet and the entire sector in one swoop.

  I knew even back then that Zaria III was deep in Aloi territory and that attacking it seemed just ridiculous. Federation intelligence reported that Zaria III defenses seemed lackluster and that a single, powerful, coordinated surprise attack could destabilize the whole region and make way for Federation forces to occupy a strategic stronghold. Perhaps even to shift the tides of war toward our side.