by G. P. Hudson
“Or, their outrage at our action could be so great that they join the Frontier Alliance because of it.”
“Really?”
“It’s possible,” Kim said with a smirk.
“It might be ‘possible’ but I would say it is highly improbable. In the end, governments are not much different than corporations. They serve their own interests. The other worlds may be sympathetic to the Pallian cause, but I doubt they will stick their own necks out for it.”
“Many of the worlds are already at war with the Empire. If the Pallians joined the Frontier Alliance, you can be sure that the Alliance has also approached the others. For all we know, they may have secret agreements in place with those worlds as well.”
“It is a possibility, but not one I am worried about. A stronger Frontier Alliance would draw out the war, which would result in more profits for Zeta Corp. If the Empire wins, we lose. Sure, the Empire will remain a client, but a lack of competition will encourage the Emperor to demand lower prices. I can’t allow that to happen.”
“Then why give the Emperor exclusivity?”
“I can’t say no to all that money, can I? And it’s about time the galaxy was given a glimpse of how powerful Zeta Corp really is.”
Chapter 10
Accessing event recording, the Voice, as Danny stood in the tubular chamber. B732, the evidence indicates that it was your decision to abandon ship. Is that correct?
That is correct, said Danny.
You disobeyed a direct order from Captain Reynolds.
I did.
Explain?
The order was irrational. All evidence indicated that the destroyer could not be saved. There were two hundred Zeta contractors on board. Following the order would have sacrificed the lives of those contractors. A significant loss for Zeta Corp.
There are times when your orders will likely terminate your life. Will you disobey those orders?
No. What I am saying is that Captain Reynolds ordered us to stay on board, knowing that the destroyer would not survive, and neither would we. He acted irrationally, as is shown when he fired on our boarding craft.
It is agreed that this action corroborates your account of the incident. Destroying the Zeta shuttles was an irrational, hostile act against Zeta property. You have been exonerated of any wrongdoing.
Danny felt somewhat relieved at the vindication, although he knew no action would be taken against Captain Reynolds. This was irritating. The man tried to murder him, and his brethren, and yet he would face no repercussions.
Prepare for download of new data pack.
Danny’s muscles flexed in anticipation of the transfer.
Downloading.
Pain spiked through Danny’s brain. He bit down hard and squeezed his eyes shut. Every muscle in his powerful body tightened, and he prayed for a small data size. He had been genetically modified to possess a greater pain tolerance than the average human, but this was borderline intolerable. He couldn’t imagine a regular human undergoing the experience.
Download complete, said the Voice after several excruciating minutes.
Danny opened his eyes, gasping for air. The pain was gone, but his body had not yet relaxed. Varying muscle groups spasmed, and there was a violent pounding in his temples. A wave of nausea swept over him, and acrid bile came up in his throat.
The prolonged aftereffects indicted a larger than normal download. It annoyed him that he had no understanding of what had been downloaded into his brain. Why was that information kept from him? Wasn’t it his brain? It was just knowledge, after all.
He knew they were going back to the Pallian system, and realized he had a much deeper understanding of Pallias, the Pallian home planet. He knew intricate details about its geography, and people. He was also surprised to find that he understood the Pallian language.
The more he thought about Pallias, the more he realized he knew. The details of their next mission had also been inserted into his brain. They would engage the Pallian fleet once more, only this time they would do so with Zeta Corp warships. UEDF ships would be there, but Danny would not have to serve on them. That was a relief, especially after his experience with Captain Reynolds.
Their combined force would defeat the Pallians, along with their Frontier Alliance friends, and would occupy the planet. Danny would be part of the occupation force. He suddenly realized that he would be spending a considerable amount of time in the Pallian system.
Are we finished? he said.
Yes. You are free to go, said the Voice.
Danny stepped out of his chamber and proceeded down the long corridor, passing the same rows of identical chambers, and bodies. How many times had he taken this walk? How many downloads had he endured?
His mind returned to the incident. Zeta had taken his side, which was good, though he knew they wouldn’t pursue the matter further. But the incident itself nagged at him. Was it an isolated event, or would something similar occur again? He couldn’t be sure. He remained unsettled. He didn’t like the feeling.
Many things were bothering him lately. Foremost among them was the Pallian captain. He didn’t understand why his mind kept returning to her, but he needed to be cautious, lest Zeta Corp uncover these repeated thoughts. He didn’t believe they were seditious, but you never could tell how Zeta might interpret them.
There was something about the captain, something about her words. ‘You know what you’ve been programmed to know. Believe what you’ve been instructed to believe. You’re no better than a machine.’ Was she right? Did he not just have information downloaded into his brain? Did he have a choice in the matter? Be careful, he warned himself.
Feeling famished after the download, he made his way to the Zeta cafeteria. He grabbed a tray of food, and turned to find a seat.
“Little brother, over here,” G325 called out.
Danny spotted his friend, and walked over to join her. Sitting down, he noticed that G325 had already finished her meal. “How was your food?”
“Optimally nutritious, yet devoid of anything resembling flavor.”
Danny smiled, and shoved a forkful of what he could only describe as mystery meat into his mouth.
“They ask you about the destroyer?” said G325.
“Uh huh,” said Danny, while chewing on the bland protein.
“Me too. They said Reynolds was out of line. Same for you?”
Danny nodded.
“Not like they’re going to do anything about it,” said G325. “Such is the life of a contractor.”
Danny wondered about that statement. Is that really all my life is?
“I’m guessing you got your download as well. Looks like we’re going to meet the Pallians again.”
“Yeah, it’s going to be a major operation. Zeta warships and everything.”
“I don’t remember the corp getting this involved in a conflict before. The Empire’s not taking any chances.”
“No, they’re not. I can’t imagine what it is costing them.”
“Nor will you ever imagine. Grunts like us don’t see any of that wealth.”
Why not? We’re the ones doing all the fighting. There were those thoughts again. He really needed to get his mind under control.
“You okay?” said G325.
“Yeah. Why?”
“You seem different. Distracted. Ever since the destroyer.”
Get control of yourself. It’s starting to show. “You’re imagining things, sister. I’m fine. Really.”
G325 smiled. “Just don’t go shooting Captain Reynolds if we happen to run into him.”
“I’m not making any promises.”
Chapter 11
“Have a seat, Captain. The Admiral will be with you shortly,” said Admiral Cherenko’s assistant, a rather attractive junior officer. Reynolds couldn’t help but wonder if Cherenko engaged in extra-curricular activities with the young woman.
“I prefer to stand,” Reynolds said, doing his best to control his fraying nerves. Is this it?
He thought. Are they finally going to put me out to pasture?
The assistant shrugged and went back to her duties, leaving Reynolds alone to question why the Admiral had summoned for him. It had to do with the Pallian campaign, of that he had no doubt. Had Cherenko decided to use him as a scapegoat? Was he about to be forced into retirement?
“The Admiral will see you now,” said Cherenko’s assistant, as the doors to his office slid open.
Captain Reynolds entered, his mind darkened with dread. Inside, the room looked like a war museum. Everywhere he looked there were models of UEDF warships, some several centuries old. The walls were adorned with military art, depicting many of the more glorious periods in the UEDF’s long history. He noticed one of his favorites. The siege of Kanju. It depicted one of the key battles that led to the formation of the Empire. Those were heroic times. If only he had been born then.
Cherenko himself sat behind his desk, studying one of his displays. Reynolds walked up to the large desk, stood at attention, and saluted. “Captain Reynolds, reporting.”
The Admiral turned away from his display, acknowledging his presence, and returning the salute. “Pull up a chair, Reynolds.”
“I prefer to stand, Sir.”
“I didn’t ask you what you preferred, did I?”
“No, Sir.”
“Then take a seat.”
“Yes, Sir.” Reynolds pulled up a nearby armchair, and sat down. He looked at the admiral, trying to gauge his mood, but Cherenko gave nothing away.
“I’ve been going over the data of the Pallian battle.”
Here it comes, thought Reynolds. He’s going to hang me out to dry.
“There were some notable problems with the operation. The obvious problem was the surprise appearance by the Frontier Alliance. A clear failure of intelligence. We simply did not know that the Pallians had joined the Alliance. Lack of information turned the operation into a major defeat.”
A defeat he will find a way to blame me for.
“Now as far as I can tell, the operation was going relatively well up to that point. Of course, the Pallians had no intention of surrender, like we had anticipated, but that was a direct result of the secret alliance. The Pallians knew the Frontier Alliance was coming, so they did their best to lure our ships in so that they could be more vulnerable.”
He still hasn’t accused me of any wrongdoing. What kind of sadistic game is he playing?
“I’m not going to lie to you, Reynolds. The last thing we needed was to be defeated by the Pallians. Not only did we lose valuable ships, but our defeat will embolden the other worlds. Our fear is that they will join the Frontier Alliance, creating a single, more powerful opponent.”
“That would be a troubling development, Sir.”
“Yes, it would. Which is why the Emperor has ordered us to act decisively, to avert such a development. We will be going back to the Pallian system, and this time we are going to take it. When we do, we will make an example of Pallias, their home planet. That will send a clear and convincing message to the other worlds. They will understand the heavy cost of rebellion.”
“I’m sorry, Sir, but I don’t understand. We will need a larger fleet to take the system now. If we allocate those ships to the Pallian system, won’t that leave us vulnerable in other key areas?”
“Precisely. Which is why we are using Zeta Corp for the operation.”
“Zeta Corp?”
“Yes. The Emperor has established an exclusive agreement with Zeta Corp. More than half of our invasion fleet will consist of Zeta Warships. We will have more than enough to take, and hold the system, and we won’t have to weaken any of our other fleets in the process.”
“Forgive me, Sir, but is it wise to rely so heavily on Zeta Corp for this operation?”
“See, that there is exactly why I called you in here, Captain. The galaxy has changed, and Zeta Corp has rapidly become part of the new reality. Like you, I am wary of our increased reliance on these mercenaries. They fight only for profit. Today they fight for us, tomorrow they might fight against us.
“Yes, Sir. My thoughts exactly.”
“I’ll get to the point, Reynolds. I liked the way you handled the Zeta contractors under your command. I need someone who is not afraid of using the stick with Zeta. That someone is you. That is why I am promoting you to the rank of Vice Admiral, and putting you in command of the Pallian invasion force. That includes all Zeta warships and personnel. Congratulations.”
Did he just say he was promoting me to Vice Admiral? “Thank you, Sir,” said Reynolds, trying to fully grasp what he just heard. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Thank you is enough, Vice Admiral Reynolds. Now, from what I understand, the Valiant’s repairs are going well, and she’ll be ready in time for the invasion. Do you have any problem with her being your flagship?”
“No, Sir. She is a good ship.”
Cherenko nodded. “What do you want to do about a captain?”
“Commander Travers is a good man. He knows the Valiant inside out.”
“Perfect. Commander Travers has now been promoted to the rank of Captain. I’ll let you give him the news. I’ve also sent you the current plans for the invasion. I’ll tell you now that this is going to be a long-term assignment. The first stage will be the actual invasion. The second stage is the occupation of Pallias, which you will also oversee. We will assist with the political aspects of the occupation, so don’t worry about that.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
“I know, I don’t like all the political bullshit either. You will be responsible for the military, and you will have a good deal of autonomy in that regard. Of course, you will report directly to me. As for the occupation, it will include a combination of Zeta and UEDF troops. Your job is not only to keep the Pallians in line, but the Zeta soldiers too.”
“I will see to it, Sir.”
“Let’s be clear. We are making an example of the Pallians, but we are also going to show Zeta that we are in charge. Just so there are no misunderstandings.”
“Leave it to me, Sir. I’ll get the job done.”
“I’m sure you will.” Cherenko stood up, extended a hand, and Reynolds followed suit. “Once again, congratulations.”
Chapter 12
Ed Masterson, President and CEO of Zeta Corp, stood in front of the great observation deck windows, on the Zeta Corp space station. He watched the buzz of activity outside the station closely, as the great black warships were readied for combat.
“It’s quite a sight,” said Kim Lee, Zeta’s Chief Strategy Officer, who had come to stand beside him.
“It isn’t just a fleet,” said Masterson. “It is history in the making. When those ships arrive in the Pallian system, the galaxy will begin to comprehend the power of Zeta Corp. They will understand that we have not been idle. While they’ve quarreled, we’ve been industrious. While they’ve destroyed one another, we’ve built the future.”
“It might make the planetary leaders nervous. The Emperor himself might feel threatened.”
“Conquering the Pallian system will quell the Emperor’s concerns. After all, did he not pay for the use of this fleet?”
“He did.”
“Then why would he feel threatened?”
“He may not feel threatened, but his admirals might.”
“Yes, and that is part of their job. But so long as our troops follow UEDF orders, the admirals will begin to relax. In time, they might even grow accustomed to the greater role Zeta will play in the Empire’s affairs.”
“I hope so.”
Masterson smiled. “You worry too much.”
“That is what I am paid to do.”
“Good point. We do live in interesting times, with plenty to worry about. That is our advantage, however. When the admirals see how useful we can be in such a tumultuous age, they will accept the new reality. After all, why deplete their own resources putting down insurrections, when they can just hire us to do it? In time, the Em
pire will have grown so reliant on our services that they wouldn’t dream of canceling our contract. Meanwhile, we will continue to grow in size and strength.”
“It is an excellent strategy. While the many governments deplete their resources fighting each other, our wealth and influence will continue to grow.”
“That is why this operation is so important. We need to show the Emperor that he can rely on us to not only put down a rebellion, but to also occupy and hold a planet for him. Pallias is the first step. If everything goes smoothly the Emperor will hire us to do the same with other worlds. While he may question our growing capabilities, he will feel secure enough in the fact that his own fleets will remain unscathed.”
“He doesn’t want to lose his toys.”
“Exactly. Which is why we will help him keep his toys, and lend him the use of ours. He will feel like the richest kid in the sandbox. After all, our ships are significantly more advanced than the Empire’s aging fleet.”
“That troubles me as well.”
“What? Our technology?”
“The Emperor’s perception of it.”
Masterson chuckled. “I will offer him the option of purchasing some of our advancements. That should quell any objections. I will tell him that the rest are still experimental. Don’t worry, we won’t have any problems handling the Emperor and his admirals.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Chapter 13
Vice Admiral Reynolds studied the chaotic red orange environment of metaspace, as they approached the Pallian coordinates. The hulking Zeta warships raced ahead of the Valiant, an imposing sight even with the distorted view of metaspace.
The Empire now needs a fleet of mass produced mercenaries to quell revolt in a minor system, he thought. What have we come to?
He glanced at one of the displays arrayed before him, and noted that they’d be at the target coordinates in a couple of minutes. They would soon see how well the Zeta warships performed in combat. Were they as intimidating in battle as they looked? Part of him hoped so, as it would make for a quick victory. But another part of him felt uneasy. What would happen if Zeta turned against them one day? The Empire was strong enough to defeat Zeta for now, but what if they kept building? What if they supported the Frontier Alliance instead?
