Invasion

by Donald Nicklas

  Suddenly there was a bright flash behind the admiral’s eyes and his world went black. Except for one destroyer and one cruiser, no remnant of the Coreward Industries’ fleet was ever seen again.

  Chapter 1 - Complacency

  It was now the year 3133 and it had been seven years since the crew of the NR Tempestas set out to find the Sakkara and five and a half years since they returned. The crew mourned the loss of Roger Umgabe and his wife, but their daughter was now a kindergartner all of five years old. She was being raised by Bill and Tavia Marshal, who had a three year old of their own now. It was 17 years since the loss of the Hayden and it still haunted their dreams, especially since the incident with the Saltic rehashed all of the old memories for Christopher Slone, his wife and the survivors of the Hayden incident. That incident had driven Alaya Slone to leave her old life as an heiress of the Sinclair Corporation to seek her biological father outside of corporate space. Her father was one of the two heads of government of a civilization known as Nova Romae. The Romani, as they called themselves were the descendants of intellectuals and free thinkers who were banished from corporate space because they posed a threat to the space mining corporations whose CEOs were like warlords. They inherited all the power of government after Earth became uninhabitable following the last World War. When the radiation finally dissipated, the Earth was turned into a museum planet with only a billion inhabitants plying the tourist trade for the wealthy.

  The Slones had enjoyed the five years since their return from unknown space by spending time with their family and friends in their lake house. They were now both in their late forties and still young by the average 32nd century human life span of 120 to 130 years. The battle damage on Christopher Slone’s ship, the NR Tempestas, which resulted from combat with the Saltic, was long ago repaired and the battleship was as good as new. She also had a new component which was being installed in all of the Romani capital ships larger than a cruiser. Besides the normal sails for moving through the energy flows that allowed light travel, flows the humans called slipstreams, the ships were also outfitted with wormhole drives. Romani engineers had reverse engineered the Sakkara drive and learned how to build their own. They had been tested by jumping from human space to serpent space and they worked like a charm. The Romani were now the only group, other than the Saltic, who had the ability to travel great distances in one jump. This would become critical to respond quickly to any danger.

  Nova Romae was governed by two Consuls who were elected for no more than a twenty year term. The term could, however, be much shorter. No one could run for the office before the age of fifty and had to leave the office at age seventy, unless they were removed for cause before then. One of the current Consuls was Alaya Slone’s biological father, Lord Strabo. His office was that of Governing Consul. The second Consul served as the military Consul and this was Juan Lorenzo. Alaya’s father was now sixty-six years old and Juan was sixty-eight. Both were robust and healthy but would, in the next few years be forced to leave their offices and become Proconsuls and these would function as advisors to the main government and also as troubleshooters for planetary disputes within the republic. The current Proconsuls had been at their jobs for a few decades now and were in their late eighties and ready to pass the torch on so they could retire.

  The Slones were having a family cookout on the beach in front of their house. They had invited all of their friends and family, which also meant all of the most powerful people in the Republic of Nova Romae. Over the years they had developed a large group of friends, some from their old life in Sinclair Corporation space and some from their new life among the Romani. It was Founding Day, the celebration of the discovery of Nova Romae by the survivors of the Great Spinward Exodus, as the banishment of intellectuals from the corporations came to be known among the Romani. Consul Lorenzo had asked Alaya if she minded having some of the more powerful Senators join them at the cookout. Of course Alaya didn’t mind. Over time she and her husband had met the entire Senate representing the 388 systems that were part of the Republic of Nova Romae. A new system had joined them several years ago, the Petrov Corporation, which the Romani had liberated from Sinclair occupation. Since they were friends with the new Senator from Petrovia, Larisa Dalton, who was married to another friend, Jack Dalton, the ambassador from the Lagarde Corporation, they were both present, as were other friends from the liberation of Petrovia. The others at the cookout were close friends. There was Tavia Marshal and her husband Bill Marshal. Both served on Christopher Slone’s battleship, Tavia with the scout and spy service and Bill as the primary centurion of the LEG I CELERI, the legion stationed aboard the Tempestas.

  The group was rounded out by the bridge crew of the Tempestas. There was Paul McMann and his new bride, Julia Hammond, now McMann. She was a very attractive brunette who looked to be in her thirties, when actually, due to an unexpected event, she was eight centuries old. She was assigned to the Tempestas as the navigator for the wormhole drive, while her husband handled other navigation duties. Diana and Tom Gardner were there; they lived in a wing of the lake house with the Slones. Their son and the Slone’s daughter were growing up together. Both were now teenagers and anxious to get into any kind of combat they could. The Romani were completely militaristic and families lived and fought together on Romani ships of war. The last humans present at the cookout were an old friend of Alaya’s who was also a friend of the Marshals from the Rising Star mission. She was Ann Stout, who had lost the will to live when the love of her life was killed by her own father. After the latter’s death at Alaya’s hand, Ann inherited a vast fortune, but was too psychologically fragile to manage it. It was held in trust until her intensive therapy, arranged by Alaya, brought her back. She was again showing those happy traits that Alaya so loved about her. She had also, at last, gotten over her loss and was actually seeing a young Senator from a distant planet of the Republic. He was spending a lot of time at the large lake house Ann bought next to the Slone’s. Finally, there were a large number of non-humans present. They were an intelligent, reptilian species the Romani called Serpents. They looked like Earth dinosaurs of the type called velociraptors, but that was due to parallel evolution. They bore no relation to the Earth species. They had been allies of the Romani for three centuries and were now full members of the Republic and served in the Romani military. Two of the serpents present were old friends of the Slones and Marshals. One was named Sly and she was the leader of all serpents anywhere in space. The serpents were a matriarchal society where the males were dominated by the females. Another close serpent friend was named Hatch. She and Sly had been saved by Tavia from an assassin and Sly let Tavia be the ruler of all serpents for part of a day while she healed. As a result, all serpents looked at Tavia as a former World Mother and the entire species would gladly lay down their lives for her. There were also a large group of serpents present who served as officers on the various ships carried by the battleship NR Tempestas. The Slones had a large staff of caterers to serve all of their guests and the party spilled over onto Ann Stout’s beach as well. All were having a good time and enjoying the warm summer weather. Nova Romae was a beautiful planet, largely unspoiled and the Romani kept it that way. The serpents and the humans were on the beach watching the children playing or swimming. The serpents were acting as lifeguards, since they had webbed rear feet and were very comfortable in the water. As the Slones stood on their veranda and watched the activity on the beach, all they could think about was how truly lucky they were and how idyllic their life had become. Alaya told Christopher she had to check on the barbeque preparations and left for the beach. Just then the Consuls and several of the senior Senators came over to where they were standing.

  “Christopher,” Juan Lorenzo started. “I have a proposition for you.”

  Slone took a sip of his wine. “Ok, Juan, I’m listening.”

  “As you know, in two years I will be seventy and will time out of the Consular position. In two years you will also be fifty,
which will make you eligible to run for the office.”

  “Ok, I can see where this is going. Why would you want me to run for the office? Aren’t there many born Romani who would like to be Consul?”

  Slone’s father-in-law, the Consul Strabo, responded to this question. “This may surprise you, Christopher, but no one wants to be the second Consul and lead the troops. Almost all consider that too much responsibility. They would rather fight and take orders than fight and give them. I know that seems counter to everything the Romani stand for, but it is a fact we cannot change. The military consular position is also not advertised for election, since it requires a level of experience that the political does not. In four years when my time comes to leave, there will be a long list and a long election to replace me. It is the Senate who chooses the military Consul, and they have chosen you if you are willing to accept it?”

  Slone could hardly believe his ears. When he came to the Romani seventeen years ago, he thought he was joining a pirate force. Then it was a shock to know they were more powerful than most of the corporations. Now he was being asked to become the military leader of the Romani in two years time. He could only think of one thing to say at this monumental moment. “Juan, if I take the job, do I get the hat?”

  After a second’s delay, they all burst out laughing. From the first time he met Juan Lorenzo, Slone thought he looked like a pirate. He loved to wear colorful outfits and always wore a broad brimmed hat with a long ostrich feather angled backwards. Add to that a mustache and a goatee and he looked like an old Earth Spanish pirate.

  “I will have one made especially for you, my friend.”

  “Then I am honored to accept.”

  Just then Alaya came up to the group and asked what all the laughing was about. When she heard the nature of the discussion she could hardly believe it. She was going from the daughter of a Consul to the wife of a Consul. The senators said the senate was unanimous in their choice and were very happy to have Slone replace Juan Lorenzo when the time came. Slone’s head was still spinning as the news spread and everyone came up to congratulate him. They all called for a speech.

  “Ok, ok, I’ll say a few words. I am humbled by this honor but let’s not forget that Consul Lorenzo is still in the job and he has two more years as Consul. I only hope when the time comes, I can do half the job he has done.”

  There was wild applause. The Romani loved a humble warrior. He then continued. “Now I suggest we all move to the beach and enjoy the meal before it gets cold and I have to listen to my house manager blame me for that.” Again there was laughter and the cookout went well into the night. Those who did not want to go right home stayed on the beach in tents that had been set up. It was a beautiful night and all thoughts of danger were set aside. In the five years since the return from the Sakkara mission, nothing had been heard from the Saltic.

  A few weeks after the Founding Day cookout, the Slones were in the capital city, Roma, doing some shopping. As it turned out mostly window shopping. But they did want to get their daughter Olivia some new clothes for the start of the school year. Their daughter was with them. She was now 15 years old and a proud member of the scouting service, serving on her mother’s scout ship, the Mary Rose. She had inherited her mother’s beauty and independence. Since there was no age restriction in the scouting service, she was fully ranked as a level one scout. Also on the ship were Tavia and a mixed human and serpent crew. Olivia was now the sensor and engineering tech and functioned as the human communications tech. She took over Raul Cortega’s position when he was transferred to the Tempestas to replace Roger Umgabe. When they were planet bound Olivia still attended regular school on Nova Romae and also did lessons in her off time while aboard the Tempestas, which carried the Mary Rose. Along on the shopping trip was Allen Gardner, the son of Diana and Tom Gardner. Since Allen lived in the same house as Olivia, they grew up together and were very close. He was 16 years old and a naval cadet learning ship engineering to follow in his mother’s footsteps. He was also sweet on Olivia and she thought he looked very dashing in his cadet uniform. He could be a cadet starting at age 14 but had to be 18 to rank into the Navy as a starting level engineering tech.

  Slone was starting to get bored. Alaya and Olivia loved shopping and Allen just loved looking at Olivia as she modeled the clothes she tried on. Slone was the odd man out and boredom was starting to make him fidget. His wife could see his developing distress. “Hon, why don’t you check out one of the electronics stores and see what the latest gadgets look like.”

  “That’s a wonderful idea. Allen care to come along?”

  “If it’s alright with you, Uncle Christopher, I would like to help Olivia pick out some clothes.”

  Slone had to chuckle. “Ok, but you might try at least playing a little hard to get.”

  “I’m not sure what you mean, sir.”

  “Never mind. Enjoy the company.” Slone left as fast as possible, before his wife changed her mind. He had spent around fifteen minutes in the electronics store looking at the latest sound equipment. Video games never really appealed to him, since he had all the action he needed in some of the missions given him and the constant training activities. After the Saltic encounter, when the ship was repaired, he helped the Republic of New Wales deal with a pirate problem. There had been nothing to do since then and he knew his crew was getting restless, not to mention their captain. He hoped something would come along soon to put them back in the action. He would even take some more pirate hunting for now. Just then, as if on cue, his communicator went off.

  “Slone here.”

  “Captain Slone,” Christopher recognized the voice of the Consular adjutant. “Report to the Consular chambers immediately.”

  “On my way.”

  Slone closed the line and headed back to the clothing store. As he was about to enter the store, Alaya and the young ones came out. “Alaya, I’ve been called to the Consular chambers.”

  “As have I. We will have to take the kids along and they can then fly back to the beach house.”

  They all went down to street level and flagged down a hover cab. They took this to the Consular building and then sent it on with the kids to the space dock. Both Allen and Olivia could fly shuttles so they would have to deal with who got to fly the private shuttle back to the house.

  “Ok kids; take our shuttle back to the house. If we need it later, I’ll call you. Try not to scratch the paint.”

  “Oh, dad,” Olivia said in that odd voice only teenagers can produce. “You always say that and we never scratch the paint.”

  “Ok then fly safely.” The Slones kissed their daughter and returned the salute of Naval Cadet Gardner. The hover cab pulled away from the building and the Slones entered on the ground floor.

  The Consular offices were on the twelfth floor. As they entered the lobby, the guards snapped to attention and gave a crisp salute which the Slones both returned. All of the guards knew Alaya was the first Consul’s only child and rumors had already spread that Christopher was in line to be the next second Consul of the Republic. Even though the Slones knew the Romani rewarded achievement and not longevity, it still made Christopher’s head spin how fast they moved up in the short time they were there. They took the elevator up to the twelfth floor and had themselves announced. This was not the grand consular chamber where they had first met Alaya’s father. That was on the twentieth floor. On this floor the bureaucracy had its working offices. They were led down a hall to the end where there was a door marked ‘First Consul of the Republic Lord Strabo’. The guard escort knocked on the door and Consul Strabo greeted his daughter with a hug and his son-in-law with a handshake before either of them could salute. The Slones noticed that Jack Dalton was in the room as well. No one was behind the desk; all were sitting in the more casual area of the office.

  “You two must have flown at light speed to get here this quickly.” The Consul joked.

  “Well, dad, we happened to be in the city shopping when we got t
he word to report here immediately.”

  “I hope I didn’t pull you away from anything important. However, Ambassador Dalton brings some news from corporate space and I wanted your opinion on it. Let me get you some refreshments first.”

  The consul had refreshments brought in as Dalton chatted with his friends. They had not seen each other since the big cookout. After each had a glass of fine wine in front of them, Consul Strabo began, “Jack, would you please fill the Slones in on the information you received yesterday?”

  Jack Dalton was the Ambassador to Nova Romae from the Lagarde Corporation. This was one of the big seven corporations, as they were known, and had sought a non-aggression and trade agreement with the Romani. This was granted and Lagarde became the first corporation to have a treaty with Nova Romae without being required to become a protectorate. Lagarde wanted to align with the Romani to keep out of the corporate war that was taking place among the other corporations. Since Lagarde space was closer to the action, the byproduct of the treaty was the information they could supply to the Romani about what was happening in corporate space. Such information was received in a diplomatic capsule by Jack Dalton.

  Dalton consulted his electronic pad on which he had some notes. “Yesterday, I received a coded message on a diplomatic message pod from Lagarde Corporation. It was rather lengthy and I have turned it over to Romani intelligence but the gist of it is that the corporate war is over.”

  “Isn’t that a good thing?” Alaya asked.

  “You would think so, but the reason is odd. Highline was winning the war against Brandenburger. With the death of Horatio Sinclair, the Sinclair Corporation pulled their support of Brandenburger, who we think started the war for Sinclair. From what we can gather, Sinclair told Brandenburger to sue for peace, but they didn’t do that.”

  This time Slone interrupted, “I assume they sued for peace now?”