"They're pirates, so they'll be wherever they can steal the most with the least effort," added Sommer.
"Precisely."
Chapter 7
Eleven hours later on the edge of Morohtan space.
"What are we even doing here?"
"Waiting, Corporal," Taylor replied as they watched from the bridge of the Attila. They were in darkness. All bridge lights were off. The only light illuminating the bridge was bounced from the planet ahead of them. They were attached to an abandoned station that still floated in orbit of the barren wasteland of a world. The surface looked as though it was made of ash, with little light reflecting at all.
"What is even down there?"
"Last records show it was a Gurv colony. We nuked it pretty hard, but we didn't get em all."
"Gurvs? Those foul things?"
"Well, that's not really their name, or it wasn't, but it is now. It's complicated."
"And you think you will find CJ here? Why?"
"Because the Cholans have been retrieving gems and crystals from this world."
"Gems? What good are they?"
"To a pirate? Everything. They still have a value, especially to the Cholans, but others, too."
"And what has that got to do with CJ and his people?"
"Just that if we heard about this, so will he, and it's easy pickings."
"From the Cholans? He is going to let them do the work and then attack them?"
"Yes, what else would you expect?"
"That is an act of war."
"If he and his people were in the Corps, sure, but they aren't, and haven't been in a long time. CJ's team is made up of criminals and outlaws. Most drawn from military prisons and given one last chance, with freedom their reward."
"And look what they've done with it."
Taylor smiled.
"I like you, Corporal, but you have a lot more to learn about the world. Playing by the rules doesn't always get results."
"I understand that, Sir, more than any of my peers. I have studied your career, and you have forged a reputation for ignoring the rules."
"Is that what the history books say about me?"
"Is it inaccurate?"
Taylor smiled again, and that was all the confirmation Newman needed. They'd been watching the Cholan ships come and go for a while now. A cargo vessel was in orbit three hundred kilometres to their starboard side, and they'd kept a keen eye on it. A single light frigate supported it.
"I just don't see at a time like this why any of this is important."
"Because some of those crystals are used for engine components, weapons, and complex machinery," said Sommer.
"When did you do your reading?"
"When you were doing your drinking, Colonel," she snapped in a sassy tone.
Taylor failed to stifle a laugh.
"And you think CJ is just going to show up and take it all once they've done the hard work?"
"Somebody is. We have been getting reports of similar things happening, but without knowing who is doing it."
"Some of the reports from witnesses blame the Krys, but they deny all knowledge," added Sommer.
"Yeah, it's not their style. If the Krys wanted something they would just take it. No cloak and dagger work. They'd take it and hide nothing."
"So how long do we wait?"
"As long as we have to."
Hours had passed as they watched the transport shuttles go to and from the surface. Newman and Taylor sat on the floor chatting about anything and everything. It was a chance that Newman never thought he would get. But finally he couldn't help but ask about the events that had brought them together.
"Sir. You keep singling me out, and I do appreciate that. But can you answer me a question honestly?"
"I always do, as far is possible."
"It just seems, Sir, that I was selected by you, none of my squad was. Given the choice, would you have ever recruited us to fight with you?"
"In the Corps? Sure. To serve beside me, no, but I would have said that about pretty much every marine I have ever known. It's not about where we start, but what we do along the way. When you went down to M590 you were just another rookie squad. But having got through it, that says a lot. No, I didn't choose you, but I can't say it’s been a bad experience so far."
"So knowing what you now know, you would want us here?"
"Sure."
He wasn't completely convinced.
"Don't take it so personally. Taylor doesn't really like anyone for the first few weeks, or months, maybe years," said Sommer.
"What can I say, I've got standards?"
"And yet you fell in love with another marine, didn't you?"
The smile was quickly removed from Sommer's face, and Newman knew he had stepped over the line.
"I'm sorry. I am sorry, Sir, I didn't mean to press," he pleaded.
But the smile hadn't gone from Taylor's face as his mind began to wander back towards fond memories of Alita.
"No, don't be sorry. We never were. We broke every rule in the book, and I would do it all again."
"So it was worth it?"
"Damn right, it was. Alita was one of the most formidable and amazing creatures I have ever known."
"They say she was turned by Bolormaa?"
"Yes, for a while. Bolormaa turned great men and women to her cause. I still don't understand how she twisted minds to do such things. It is true that Alita did some horrific things in Bolormaa's name, but she did far more good before then. And at the end, she was herself. Even after it all, she was still able to fight back. Without her, I could not have killed Bolormaa."
"Really? That is not the story I read."
"No, because that is the inconvenient truth. It wasn't a good guy who took down evil. The story is a lot more complex."
"So, in the end, despite it all, Alita Hariz was a hero?"
"Damn right, she was, but how do you know so much about her?"
"Are you kidding me? We were taught it at school."
"And they taught you that she was a villain?"
"Wasn't she?"
"The story is way more complex than that." Sommer added her support.
Taylor leaned over and grabbed Newman by the cuirass near his neck, hauling him in close.
"Without Alita we wouldn't have won that war. Without her I would not have been able to kill that bitch Bolormaa. So you spread the word far and wide. I don't care what your teachers and your history books say. She was a hero of the Alliance, and she deserves every bit as much credit as everyone who fought and gave everything to that war. She gave her life. She gave everything." He pushed Newman back.
The Corporal was stunned, but he was just trying to process everything he had been told.
"I...I am sorry, Sir."
Taylor had nothing else to say.
"The things we were taught growing up, and the things you have been telling me these past few days, they just don't seem to match at all."
"What are you saying?"
"That it is worrying, Lieutenant. I don't think people back on Earth really have the same story as you. And I am not saying you are wrong." He held his hands up, "But there is so little faith in what the Marine Corps and the President are doing now, maybe there would be if they heard this version of events."
"What the fuck have they been teaching you?"
Taylor sounded deeply offended, and Newman understood why, but he could see both sides.
"Can you blame the people on Earth? They have been living like caged animals as a result of the war. It can't have felt like much of a victory. And even after all that loss, they are being asked to sign up to the Marine Corps that cost them so many family members, and for what? The President says we need marines, but why? He can't explain why."
Taylor looked furious, but before he could get a word in, Sommer did.
"Kid's got a point."
"So you think its right?"
"No, I don't. But quite frankly, whatever we are doing isn't wor
king. We need change."
"And how the hell are we supposed to enact that change? We are marines, that is all."
"Begging your pardon, but that is bullshit. You have interfered with politics plenty of times when you thought it was necessary."
Taylor didn't reply. He had no defence against that.
"Sir, I am picking up heat signatures," said Segura.
Taylor leapt to his feet.
"What? From where?"
"They are faint, Sir, trace signatures at best. They passed us by about half an hour ago."
"And you are only reporting this now?"
"They were so faint they barely registered, Sir."
"What are you thinking?" Roworth asked.
"A ship? Can't be, we'd have seen it," said Ward.
"This signature, which direction was it travelling?"
They had to wait a few moments as Segura squinted, trying to decipher the information.
"It's...it's heading right for the Cholan transport vessel, Sir."
"That has to be a phantom reading. There is nothing there," said Murphy.
Taylor looked to the screen they had covering the two Cholan vessels and watched intently.
"What are you looking for?" Sommer asked.
"I don't know yet...something..."
As he said it, they both noticed a glimmer and distortion in space in the lower corner of the screen.
"What? What the hell is that?"
Moments later that distortion flickered more brightly as though an invisible screen was fading away, and beneath it was a Krys warship of a size comparable to their own.
"What the hell?"
"Cloaking technology, Corporal, I haven't seen it in years," Taylor said in amazement.
Their weapons suddenly opened fire with a brutal salvo into the Cholan light frigate and continued to fire relentlessly.
"Get us there, now!" Taylor shouted.
"Release clamps, ignite engines, full power, now!" Captain Roworth ordered.
"Who the hell are they? Surely not sent by Sarik?"
"Krys tech used for piracy, Corporal, take one guess?" Sommer asked.
"This is CJ's doing? How?"
"Don't you know anything about him?"
"Just that he is an ex-con that was given a second chance in the war."
"Wow, they really did hold back on history at your school, didn't they?"
The Attila surged forward as they watched the Krys vessel continue to brutalise the Cholan vessel. It fired a modest amount back, but was already badly damaged.
"Why hasn't the transport jumped?"
"They can't, Lieutenant. Someone is...is jamming them," said Segura.
"Same old tricks." Taylor smiled.
"If that really is CJ, how the hell does he have access to all this equipment?"
"You kidding me? He has Krys contacts, and he's a thief and a pirate. If there were some juicy piece of technology to be had, he'd find it. That's why he's just the sort of man we need right now."
"You sound like you respect him, Colonel."
"I do, and I don't."
"The Colonel's history with CJ is colourful to say the least," replied Sommer.
"Hail that ship!"
"And the Cholans, Colonel, are we just going to let them die?"
"Fuck them, Captain. They weren't there for us, so we aren't there for them."
Newman felt terrible as he watched the frigate be torn apart. Its systems finally failed, and it was ripped apart by one final salvo.
"This isn't right," he muttered, "This isn't right. We have to do something!"
"Do something? I'll fight for my friends, and for my allies. But the Cholans are neither anymore."
"I'm getting a signal through from the Krys vessel, Sir," said Murphy.
"Put it through!"
A Human figure appeared before them, wearing Alliance armour, but painted black and with ancient Krys symbols on it. A helmet made from a mix of Human and Krys components covered his face. He carried a glaive that looked like it used to belong to a Krys Lord, and also wore shimmering golden cape.
"What in god's name?" Newman asked.
The strangely dressed man looked back and forth about the room, finally addressing Taylor. His voice was deep and strong, and not Humanoid at all.
"This is our bounty. Do not interfere."
"Oh, quit the bullshit. CJ we know it's you. Stop playing around," Taylor sounded jovial.
For a few moments there was no response, but then the front of the helmet retracted in on itself, and just as Taylor had said, CJ was behind it.
"How did you know?"
His voice sounded like a regular Human again, and Newman wondered why he had let his attire intimidate so much.
"Come on. A Krys vessel carrying out acts of piracy with this kind of precision. Who else would it be?"
CJ shrugged, as if taking it as a compliment.
"You know this is going to come back to bite you in the ass. The Cholans may be weak compared to what they once were, but they have more than enough of a fleet to hunt you down."
"Yeah? We'll see."
"And you think the Alliance will let it go, too?"
"You talk like the Alliance has any power or capability to stop me. It's got enough problems of its own."
"What are you talking about?"
"You know. Rivers is desperate. You are spread thin. I've never had it so easy. But I have to say I am surprised to see you this far out. I'd have thought you have more pressing concerns on Earth."
"Like what?"
"Like the riots that have erupted over the last day."
"The what?" Newman was shocked.
"Don't believe everything he says. He is a thief and a liar."
"Nice to see you again, too, Captain," he replied with a wicked smirk.
"What is this rioting you talk about?" Taylor asked.
"Rivers has tried to bring in a load of new laws, and some of them aren't too popular. Can't say I care to have read why, but the people down below the surface are ripping each other apart over it."
Taylor looked to Sommer to get her opinion. She looked unsure, but also concerned.
"Don't believe me? Reach out to your sources and ask them."
"Our long-range comms are out after an...accident."
"Well, then, you'll just have to take my word until you can get back and see the fun for yourself."
"Is this all a joke to you?" Sommer asked.
"Sure. Your Alliance had no time for us once the war was won. We weren't welcome, and so I can take a little joy in seeing it fall apart."
"But you're a part of this universe, too, aren't you? What will you do if the Alliance fails?"
"Thrive. Without an Alliance, organised policing, and Navies, we will be kings."
"If you live that long. Piracy still holds a sentence of death in many parts."
CJ shrugged. "You know how many times I have danced with death? That just doesn't mean much anymore."
"Sir, we are getting multiple jump signatures!" Segura yelled.
"On screen, now!" Roworth ordered.
They watched as a dozen Cholan warships jumped in right beside them.
"Cloak and prepare to jump, now!" CJ shouted.
But they could only watch as a large pulse of light flashed from the muzzle of a massive cannon on a Cholan warship. It crashed over CJ's ship. It seemed to do no damage, but sparks flashed across the hull, and the video signal began to fluctuate.
"CJ, what the hell was that?"
"They, they've hit us with something, some massive energy surge. We've got basic propulsion, but not a lot else."
"Sir, we're being hailed."
"Put them through, Murphy!" Taylor snapped.
A Cholan naval officer was projected onto the deck beside Taylor and CJ.
"I am Admiral Yama, and I am here to arrest this criminal."
CJ was stunned as he tried to find some way out of it.
"Welcome, Admiral, we were just..."
/>
"This is not your concern, Colonel. You will stay well clear. This is a Cholan matter."
That got Taylor's back up, and his face turned from a friendly greeting to furiously angry. He'd had quite enough of the Cholans' attitude lately, and this tipped him over the edge.
"No, you listen to me, Admiral. I have business here, and you will let me finish it. I am personal counsel to the President of the Alliance. And while the Cholan Empire remains a member of that Alliance, you will treat me with a little more respect. I need a few minutes with this man. Nobody is going anywhere. Give us a few moments."
He signalled for Murphy to cut the signal.
"What the hell is happening here, Colonel?"
Roworth sounded deeply concerned, and that surprised nobody, but Taylor's attention was entirely turned to CJ, who looked a little sheepish.
"You cannot stand against all that, and you know it."
CJ nodded.
"And you know what they will do to you?"
The same response followed.
"I came out here because I need allies. Friends would be good, but allies will do. The Krys can't help, and the Cholans won't."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that right now I am between you and them. If you won't help me, then you are no good to me."
They all started to understand what was going on, although shocked at what Taylor was proposing.
"You want to strike a deal?"
"I do."
"Well, I'm listening."
"You were once given a simple deal, a pardon for your service to the Alliance. I know that fell apart soon after the war ended, but it was once a working relationship. I will offer you the same deal again. Work for me. Work for the Alliance, and I will make sure you leave this place alive, and that you are also pardoned by the President himself. I am offering you a clean slate."
"Colonel, you don't have the power to do that," Sommer protested.
"The hell I do. I have the ear of the President, and if this is what is required to get the job done, he will accept it. That is all that matters to Rivers. He wants results."
"Is this not a deal with the devil?" Roworth asked.
Taylor took a deep breath, contemplating what he was about to do, and what the consequences might be.
"The Cholans refused to help, and so they are dead to me. But here is an asset that can help. I'm being forced to take sides, and I'll side with the ones who'll stand beside me, and fight with me. So what do you say?"
Beyond Earth- Civil War Page 11
