by Doug Hoffman
At that point a Marine guard shot Todor with a low power stunner burst. Another guard caught him from behind as he crumpled and eased him back to a seated position. He trembled and was unable to speak but was otherwise conscious.
“This ain't no philosophy class, sonny. This is a military installation under attack by enemies that aim to exterminate our species. Yer lucky you're even getting a hearing.”
“Da, this is not a democracy, it is not a country or city with civil laws. It is a military base and all of you signed a statement acknowledging that when you became residents. We are at war. If we wished to bring the full weight of military law to bear you would have been charged with treason in the face of the enemy.”
“Surely, your honors, their acts do not rise to the level of treason,” pleaded Counselor Jenkins—treason undoubtedly carried the death penalty. He had precisely zero sympathy for his clients but he was a lawyer and bound by law and custom to defend them.
“While these miscreants have been rioting and endangering us all, eighteen brave men and women died defending this base and our home world. They are lucky not to be marched out an airlock,” Ludmilla spat, her jaw clenched and eyes narrow. She inhaled deeply several times to recover her composure.
* * * * *
The defense rested with a final plea for mercy and the judges retired to chambers—actually just a private area behind the dais—to confer amongst themselves. TK was first to speak.
“So let's vote first to see if we find the lot of 'em guilty, all in favor?”
“Aye.”
“Aye.”
“Then it's unanimous, they stand convicted. Now what are we gonna do with 'em?”
“We have no facilities on the base to incarcerate one person let alone twenty seven,” Ludmilla stated, “and I think that this is a matter that requires more than just a slap on the wrist.”
“Myself, I was thinkin' more along the lines of a short rope and a long drop, if you get my meaning.”
Until the video was shown, Rajiv had been unaware of the extent of the riot. After viewing the evidence, he was aghast by the rioters' actions. If the attack on Melissa had shocked him this incident angered him as he had never been angered in his life. These fools had willingly endangered all that stood between mankind and extinction. Even so, he was not comfortable with executing the rioters and he said so.
“They didn't kill or even hurt anyone badly. I don't see how we can execute these people with a clean conscience.”
“Yer no fun at all, Rajiv,” TK said, smiling to show he was joking, mostly.
“I agree with Rajiv, capital punishment would be a bit extreme. We have no prison but there is one place that could serve as a gulag.”
“Are you thinkin' what I'm thinkin', Ludmilla?”
“If you are thinking we dump them back on Earth, then yes.”
“That would certainly ensure that they cause no more trouble in the future and we would not have their blood on our hands,” Rajiv said approvingly. “But where should we drop them?”
“Some place in the southern hemisphere would be kindest right now, since it's summer down there. I'd say either the South African highlands or the mountains of South America.”
“Not Australia?”
“The Aussies are allies, I wouldn't dump these troublemakers on them even as a last resort.”
“No matter, banishment and transportation to Earth it is—we can decide exactly where later. Are we agreed?” They were. The three judges turned back to the courtroom to pronounced their verdict.
“We find the defendants guilty as charged on all counts,” Ludmilla announced. “The sentence is banishment for life from Farside Base and transportation back to Earth.”
“May God have mercy on your souls.” TK added, a phrase oftentimes added when pronouncing a death sentence. Given the conditions on Earth, transportation might well be a death sentence. Then, with a rap of his gavel, the first trial in the history of the Moon was over.
Fleet HQ, Farside
Billy Ray had practically lived in the command center for the past 48 hours, monitoring the alien invaders. As the ships passed near the Sun direct observation became difficult from Farside, but other ships and satellites throughout the solar system remained focused on the intruders. They relayed tracking information back to Farside HQ, even though much of it was significantly time delayed.
“Looks like the second one is headed to Beta Hydri, Captain,” he said to Gretchen, who likewise had scarcely left the command center since general quarters sounded.
“And the first is still on course for Delta Pavonis?”
“Yes, Ma'am. I can't see any place else they'd be headed.”
“What about the third?”
“That's a bit of a puzzle. They've already missed direct vectors to major transit points—61 Virginis, Zeta Tuc, and couple of others. There are still a number of transit points they could be headed for but none of them make a lot of sense. They are mostly small stars with long transit times.”
“So what are they up to?”
“My best guess? I think they're swinging around the Sun to head back the way they came.”
Gretchen nodded slowly, considering the display in front of her and Billy Ray's analysis. Finally she spoke.
“I think we need to tell Lt. Melaku to arrange a fitting sendoff for our guests.”
“Yes, Ma'am. I know she'll be happy to oblige.” Billy Ray smiled, this ought to make her forget missing the dust up down in Texas, if she don't get herself killed.
Corvette Squadron, Nearing The Beta Comae Transfer Point
Beth reviewed the positions of her ships as they streaked toward the Beta Comae transfer point and their rendezvous with the alien intruder. They were about an hour out, their arrival carefully calculated to intercept the fleeing alien before it could exit 3-space. The corvettes would be taking the enemy head on at a closing speed of over 1200 km/sec. They would get one shot at this and she intended that they make it count.
She had already received word from HQ that Constitution and Constellation intercepted their target and blew it out of space. The frigates' stronger shields deflected their quarry’s particle cannon blasts while they overwhelmed its shields with X-ray laser torpedoes and a hail of railgun slugs. Like all of the enemy ships encountered to date, this one must have been powered by antimatter—nothing else could explain the tremendous explosion that vaporized the vessel after its shields failed.
Beth was taking that into account in planning her attack. They would hit the bastard with everything they had and then either blow past if the target survived—jinking like mad to avoid enemy fire—or break off to avoid the AM explosion if it didn't. While blast effect was negligible in space the gamma and hard X-rays produced by such an explosion could be deadly, and striking any debris at these relative velocities could also prove fatal.
An incoming message interrupted her thoughts—it was HQ. She switched from tactical helmet display to view the control panel. On it a window opened and Billy Ray's face appeared.
“Just wanted to give you a final update on the bogey, Squadron Commander. You are looking good for intercept.” Billy Ray's jawline showed a day's unshaven beard growth. His eyes were ringed by dark circles but shone brightly nonetheless.
“Thank you for the update, HQ. Hope to see you soon back at base.” Damn, how could I have left while we were still fighting? Never again, she swore.
“Roger that. Tally ho, and good hunting.”
Soon there were just a few minutes left before the speeding corvettes intercepted the onrushing alien warship—then just seconds.
“Single braid by flight, torpedoes two salvos of two, on my mark.” The formation of ten corvettes swirled in a complex interweaving pattern.
“Fire one! Fire two! Double braid by pairs.” The interlacing pattern became even more complex, verging on chaotic. To an outside observer the pattern might have looked a bit asymmetrical, a bit ragged, but that was as intended.
> “Railguns, four slug burst, on my mark.” Each ship added a bit of randomness to their maneuvering to prevent the enemy from predicting their courses from the pattern.
“Guns! Guns! Guns!” Ahead flashes from the torpedo warheads exploding could be seen.
* * * * *
On the bridge of the alien warship the mission commander looked at her instruments and saw her own destruction. This flight of small ships is using a much better attack plan, she thought with grudging respect. These creatures do learn quickly.
“Launch a messenger probe through the transfer point. Weapons fire on the attacking ships.”
There was a shudder and further thought was cut short by a 10kg slug striking the bridge. The kinetic energy of the collision, equivalent to 3.5 kilotons of TNT, turned its liquid atmosphere into plasma. A fraction of a second later a second slug pierced an antimatter container, starting a chain reaction that reduced the entire ship to naked nuclei and tortured electrons.
* * * * *
Beth was ready to order the squadron to blow by the intruder when a large flash illuminated the space directly ahead.
“Break! Break! Put the target on your six and veer off.” Putting their sterns to the explosion gave the crews maximum radiation shielding.
“Eh bien, alors! It looks like we got them,” said Frenchy with relieved satisfaction.
Right, thought Beth, as the adrenaline rush faded, easy peasy.
CO's Office, Farside Base
Billy Ray, fresh from a night's sleep and a shower, approached the base commander's office. His irises were scanned by the new security system installed in all military and sensitive areas. This was Chief Engineer Medina's response to the order for tightened security. No one would be able to gain unauthorized access using a purloined ID signal or stolen comm pip again.
The ensign stationed at the receptionist's desk waived him through to the Colonel's office. “Go right in, Commander. They are waiting for you.”
Oh great! I'm the last one to arrive. Nodding to the younger officer he strode through the door as it slid aside. Inside were Col. Tropsha and Capt. Curtis. Before he could salute and report to the commanding officer, Ludmilla waved him to an empty chair and launched right into the reason for the meeting.
“Good morning, Cdr. Vincent. I hope you are feeling well rested after a good night's sleep. I suppose you are wondering why you have been called to my office yet again.”
“I'm a mite curious, yes Ma'am.”
“You tell him, Captain.”
“Lieutenant Commander Vincent, attention to orders. You are promoted to the permanent rank of commander and assigned as captain of the Peggy Sue. You are further instructed to make your ship ready for space, to sail as soon as possible for Gliese 581d on a mission essential to the defense of Earth.”
Billy Ray was speechless. He had been expecting a ship of his own, but not the Peggy Sue. She was a fine ship but he longed for the captain's chair on the bridge of a new frigate. And being ordered back to Gliese 581 meant a trip of three weeks in alter-space each way, why now? The confusion showed in his eyes.
“Before you say anything, Commander, let me explain your mission. We have been approached by Ambassador NatHanGon regarding his species' contribution to the war effort. After observing recent events—the aftermath of the bombardment attack and the recent reconnaissance incursion—they are convinced that their fellows will be amenable to sending some reinforcements.”
“But they don't have any weapons, Ma'am. How can they help?”
“Remember when we last visited the Triad's system? When there were references made to a group known as 'the Guardians'?”
“Vaguely. They were supposed to be a group of Triads who defended their planet.”
“Precisely, Billy Ray,” said Ludmilla, using his given name to draw him into the secret mission on a more personal level. “The Ambassador is offering to speak on our behalf back home, but we need a way to get them there.”
“Right,” said Gretchen, expanding on Ludmilla's statement. “It makes sense to send the Peggy Sue, after all the Triads have been visited by her before. Who knows how they would respond to one of the new frigates. And arguably, sending the Peggy Sue has the least impact on our defensive capabilities, since she is not as heavily armed as a frigate.
“As for commanding the mission, you know the Peggy Sue as well as anyone alive. You are also one of the few officers who has piloted a ship to other star systems. You know the ship, you know the system and you know the Ambassador—you are the perfect choice, the only choice to command this mission.”
Billy Ray still looked a bit dazed by the turn of events. He thought of Beth, and how he would explain his sudden departure and lengthy absence to her.
“For crew we can give you one of the junior helmsmen from the last voyage, Dr. Piscopia as science officer, and a few other seasoned crew as well. And the Chief, of course—there is no chance of the Peggy Sue sailing without Chief Zackly,” Ludmilla smiled.
“So precisely what are my orders?”
“You are to try and convince the Triads to lend us aid in defeating our attackers. What form that aid might take remains to be seen. This is why we need an officer who has been out there before, who has dealt with aliens and won't be overwhelmed by the whole experience.”
“Aye aye, Ma'am. I guess I should see to my ship and crew if the Peggy Sue is to sail tomorrow morning.”
“You have time, Commander. It will take Dr. Scott Hamilton all night to get the Ambassador installed on the ship.”
“Melissa got her Doctorate?”
“Yes, she defended while you were dirtside helping the Republic of Texas. She will be on the voyage also, since she is our Triad expert.”
“Congratulations, Commander,” Gretchen stood and offered her hand. “As her former captain I wish you good luck and God speed.”
“Yes, Billy Ray, good luck,” said Ludmilla, shaking his hand in turn, “and do not worry, you will have time to say good bye to Lt. Melaku tonight. She is cleared to know of your mission, but otherwise this is a classified matter.”
As he left the CO's office he thought: well, I've always dreamed of my own star ship—now all I have to do is tell my new girlfriend that I'm going away for a couple of months, commanding a ship named after my last girlfriend. Dinner was going to be interesting, to say the least.
Rogue Planet, Interstellar Space
In the interstellar void between Beta Comae and a red dwarf known to humans as Ross 1015, a dark world five times as massive as Jupiter followed its own lonely path around the Galaxy. A dark imitation of a stellar system, the rogue planet possessed its own brood of orbiting satellites. Half a dozen of the largest moons were inhabited by creatures unfamiliar to human kind. Unfamiliar but not unknown—they were the Dark Lords, self nominated rulers of the galaxy's cold life.
A functionary of moderate influence had been summoned by one of the elders. Resembling a strange mixture of plant and animal, the Dark Lords were related to neither. Their kind had evolved on a different path from the life that inhabits worlds warmed by bright burning stars. They were an ancient race and with their slow metabolisms an elder could live for millions of years. The elder in question had already risen to a position of importance before the war with the accursed T'aafhal raged, more than four million years ago.
He of moderate influence shuffled forward on a multitude of bristle like legs, attempting politely to attract his superior's attention. Elder Dark Lords tended to spend most of their time lost in meditation, pondering thoughts unknown.
“Your pardon, Significant One. I come in response to your summons.”
“Report. How go the efforts to cleanse the Universe of this latest infestation of warm life?”
“Significant One, a ship from the client race known as the People was dispatched. It struck the vermin's world but did not succeed in exterminating them. The probe recordings showed they fought valiantly but were overwhelmed by the system's inhabitants.”
“Remind me to have the planet of these People purged when this is over. What further actions have you taken.”
“A reconnaissance mission using a more technically advanced client race was launched to survey the system. I expect their return shortly. Then I plan to launch a simultaneous attack by three of the more capable client races—the warm life scum will be destroyed by massive force.”
“Good. The effort will no doubt cull some of the client fleets as well. It is never a good idea to let them grow too powerful. You say these new vermin are most formidable?”
“They have left a trail of destruction across their local stellar neighborhood, destroying or defeating three client races, though none were very advanced.”
“Hmmmm,” the Elder's speech membranes buzzed in contemplation. “Bring forth a ship from the ancient fleet, a battle cruiser. I will attend this race's extinction myself.”
“As you command, Significant One.”
The functionary could see that the conversation was ended and the elder had returned to his meditations. As he shuffled from the audience chamber thoughts came unbidden: The Significant One must think these vermin are dangerous, indeed. No Dark Lord warship has ventured forth into the warm realms in nearly a million years. And a cleansing under the direct supervision of a Dark Lord is almost unheard of. A pity the vermin will never appreciate the honor bestowed upon them.
Chapter 20
Ring Station
“Captain, we are approaching the entrance to the dock as instructed,” called Lt. McKennitt from the flight deck of the shuttle. Making contact with the station Trader took nearly a week, and arranging to land a party on the station another. Eventually a rough understanding was reached and the Earthlings, along with their untrustworthy partners, boarded the larger of the two Earth built shuttles to make the short passage from the M'tak Ka'fek to the gigantic spinning ring.
“Very good, Lieutenant,” Jack replied. “Slow and steady, and keep an eye peeled for a trap.”
“Aye, Sir. Slow and steady it is.” The shuttle edged up to what appeared to be a vertical wall eight kilometers high.
