by S. H. Jucha
“Two Omnian fleets are behind us, Governor,” Sotagar said.
“Two? Behind us?” Somgut queried.
“Yes, Governor,” the fleet commander replied. “I’m not sure how they achieved it, but we’ve been neatly bracketed by four fleets within moments after our arrival.”
“Do we have an escape vector?” Somgut asked anxiously.
“Yes, Governor, they’ve generously left us one distinct path out of their box. It’s into the dark,” Sotagar replied. “It’s as clear a message as you can send.”
“Thank you, Commander,” Somgut replied, and switched to the conference call. Meanwhile, the others had received the same update.
“Now what?” Somgut heard Tortred ask Durgat.
“You’ll note that they’re not attacking, and we’re not launching missiles,” Durgat stated, as evenly as possible. “We still have one last opportunity. If we’re successful, we’ll win the home world. Isn’t that worth the risk?”
“And if we’re unsuccessful?” Tortred riposted.
“We sail for our respective colonies,” Durgat replied. “However, it’s critical to note that the leaders of this system have no more intention of engaging in a fight than we do.”
“We need to finish this, Durgat,” Tratget said. “Make the call to Sargut.”
Durgat disconnected from the conference call. He ordered his captain to broadcast his request to speak to Sargut. He was forced to resort to an open broadcast because no one knew which ship Sargut was aboard.
Miranda was connected to the bridge comm system in Sunnamis’s battleship and the traveler in the ship’s bay. Chandra had linked the traveler’s controller to the Omnian Trident that was stationed in the middle of Sunnamis’s fleet. In turn, Cordelia was monitoring that Trident and the Talus Tridents among Taralum’s fleet.
Sargut explained what was being done to facilitate the ruse, and he desperately wanted these capabilities for Talus. This made him crave for success against Durgat and his conspirators.
When Sargut heard Durgat’s broadcast, he was cued that he was online. “I’m here,” he replied.
“Where’s here?” Durgat asked. The reply had been quick, and the governor surmised that Sargut was close, most likely aboard the fleet lacking a governor’s ship or a heavy.
“I’ll provide that information in due time, Durgat,” Sargut replied, choosing to omit the governor’s title. “What is it you think we have to talk about?”
“Are you trying to intimidate us with your additional forces?” Durgat temporized.
“I’m not interested in discussing our forces, Durgat. They’re evident to both of us. Now answer my question.”
“We started much too far apart on this issue of Talus governorship. I think there’s an opportunity for compromise,” Durgat proposed.
“What’s your offer?” Sargut replied. To him, the discussion was a farce, but Alex insisted that he participate.
* * *
Nerves among the senior commanders of the Talus defenders were taut. They’d spent an inordinate amount of time strategizing about what the governors’ fleets might do and postulating what Alex or Tatia would direct them to do.
“If we’re ordered to retreat, our path to the dark is clear,” Hector said to Adrianna. “But what if we’re ordered to attack?”
“It would get ugly,” Adrianna replied.
The pair was talking privately in Hector’s quarters, and Adrianna was staring into a holo-vid display of the eight fleets.
“The commanders in the governors’ fleets are smart,” Adrianna mused.
“How so?” Hector inquired.
“They’ve formed their ships into a tight ball,” Adrianna replied. “They have the numbers to cover all sectors of a sphere, with their bows faced outward. Tridents can’t get to them without sailing into a hail of missiles, and their defensive fields of fire will overlap and annihilate our fighters.”
“This makes them dangerous foes to defeat,” Hector summarized.
“Which is why the probability is high there won’t be a battle,” Adrianna reasoned. “Our fleet losses would be too great.”
Ellie commented.
Darius chose to say nothing. Nerves were tight enough without discussing a future of ever-growing, seemingly insurmountable challenges.
Taralum regarded the holo-vid supplied by Miriamette. It sat in the middle of the bridge on a table borrowed from the captain’s quarters.
“The fight against Artifice was our fleet’s first major engagement against significant forces,” Taralum admitted to the SADE. “Will the Omnian admiral direct our attack strategy?”
“If it comes to that,” the sister replied. “Although, I’ve my doubts about a fight. The logistics of such an encounter … mixing Tridents, battleships, beams, and missiles would create a disaster for our forces.”
Sunnamis had heard Durgat and Sargut’s conversation, as relayed by Miranda. It reminded her that she hadn’t shared a critical piece of information with Julien.
“Julien, Durgat will practice any deception to get his hands on Sargut,” Sunnamis said. “This will be done to prevent engaging his ships in battle. None of the governors will want that.”
“Explain,” Julien replied, as he connected to Alex and relayed the initial part of the conversation.
“The governors can’t afford any significant engagements,” Sunnamis continued. “Certainly not ones that would damage their ships. My colonists were shocked that I took our premier battleship, the colony’s defender, out of the system.”
“What reason did you give them?” Julien asked.
“The governors agreed to tell our citizens that we sailed our fleets to visit the home world and ensure it was safe for Toralians to inhabit once again,” Sunnamis explained.
“This means that damaged or lost ships would be difficult to explain in light of the fact that Talus is safe,” Julien surmised.
“Yes,” Sunnamis said. “The governors might invent excuses, but it would only be a matter of time before those statements were discovered to be untruths.”
“I surmise that you’re leading to a suggestion, Governor. What is it?” Julien asked.
“We only have to cripple or eliminate two ships in each fleet to make the governors vulnerable to their citizens,” Sunnamis said.
“Your fleet’s ships could be damaged and destroyed too,” Julien noted. “What would your colonists think?”
“I’m prepared to explain what was proposed by the governors,” Sunnamis declared. “I’ve no doubt that I’ll be replaced. In that event, there’s every possibility that I’ll join the Talus so
ciety. I can be an effective administrator.” She ended with an intense display of sharp teeth.
Julien chuckled at the governor’s intensity. She was a Toralian who would turn adversity into opportunity. He was reminded of Alex’s words that Sunnamis could be counted on to have her best interests at heart.
Julien sent to Alex.
Julien heard Sargut’s voice, which was translated via Alex’s implant.
Then Julien received Cordelia’s transmission of the conversation.
“Start again, Sargut,” Alex said.
“Your conversation has given me an idea,” Sargut said excitedly. “The governors’ holds over their fleets are through the power of their offices, but it’s the captains to whom the crews give their loyalty.”
“And?” Alex urged.
“The Omnians have great capabilities. Is it possible that you have recordings of the discussions at the mound?” Sargut asked, tapping his temple.
“Are you referring to the part where Durgat told you of the governors’ plan to usurp your presidency and exile you?” Alex asked.
“That would be it,” Sargut replied hopefully.
“We have it,” Alex replied. “Every Omnian who was there, except the Dischnya, recorded the meeting. For us, it’s only a question of choosing to retain it, delete it, or store it in a database.”
“Incredible,” Sargut enthused. “What we need to do is broadcast that conversation to the governors’ ships.”
“Understood,” Alex replied. “Do the governors have the capability of overriding the fleets’ comm systems?”
“They can order the commanders and captains to shut off reception, but they can’t control the broadcast,” Sargut replied.
“We can’t penetrate the comms any farther than a battleship’s bridge, can we?” Alex asked.
“No, but if we time it correctly for first watch, the fleet commanders and the captains will be on their bridges. That should give us maximum impact,” Sargut suggested. “However, Sunnamis and Taralum have many more annuals of experience. They could offer better advice.”
“Then what?” Alex asked.
“Then we wait,” Sargut replied. “When first watch is relieved, they’ll speak to others.”
“It might be advantageous, Alex, to play the sequence for each watch,” Julien said, his voice relayed through the bridge speakers.
“Even better,” Sargut agreed.
“Cordelia —” Alex managed to say before he received a link. A quick check of the database revealed that Cordelia had already prepared the vid recordings of the conversation at the mound.
Alex grinned at Cordelia, and she returned a wink.
Sargut watched the interplay and wondered at the relationships of humans and SADEs. They appeared more intimate than he would have supposed.
Alex did request a few minor changes in the vid before he pronounced it ready. “Julien,” Alex said, “you’ve control of when and how to disseminate this vid. I would suggest you get Sunnamis and Taralum’s input before doing so. Good fortune.”
* * *
Durgat’s comm buzzed incessantly. His dark eyes popped open, and he snatched his ear comm from its holder. “Speak,” he commanded.
“Are you hearing this?” Tortred demanded.
“Not while I’ve been sleeping,” Durgat retorted.
“Then your fleet’s third watch has been listening to a broadcast that jeopardizes our plans. Get to your bridge,” Tortred shouted and ended the call.
Sunnamis and Taralum had suggested an alternative time to start the broadcasts. Sargut’s suggestion aimed to influence the captains and senior officers who would have sway over the crews. However, the governor and fleet admiral thought the junior officers would be more vulnerable to the broadcast.
Durgat dropped from his bar and hurriedly dressed. Third watch was on duty, which meant junior officers controlled the bridge, while his commander and captains slept.
As Durgat walked briskly to the bridge, he wondered why his delicate feet ached. A glance down revealed he’d mixed his soft boots, placing them on the wrong feet. As he entered the bridge, sharp whistles issued from a few of those on duty, and the comms officer cut off the broadcast. To Durgat’s surprise, he’d heard his own voice.
“Turn it on,” Durgat demanded. He listened to the exchange at the mound. When it ended, it repeated. No statement accompanied the message. It wasn’t necessary.
Durgat was thankful that there weren’t visuals that would have shown Sargut’s appearance.
“Turn it off,” Durgat ordered. He was about to remonstrate the comms officer for allowing the broadcast to play, when the words stuck in his throat.
The junior officers should have been cowed by his presence. Heads would be high, as befitting Toralian officers, but eyes would be downcast. Instead they gazed at him. They appeared to be measuring him.
“That channel remains off,” Durgat ordered the comms officer. “Communicate that to the fleet.”
“What of the other channels?” the officer asked.
The question seemed absurd to Durgat until he had a moment to think. Then he asked, “How many?”
“All battleship and shuttle channels … the fleet’s entire communication band,” the officer replied.
Durgat whistled shrilly and stormed off the bridge. It was uncharacteristic of him, but he was too angry to care. He knew who was behind this. The Omnians would have the recording and the comm technology, but it was Sunnamis, who knew the fleet’s most vulnerable time was when governors, commanders, and captains were asleep.
The first to hear the broadcast were the most susceptible, the junior officers. They hadn’t invested as much time in the service as senior officers.
At his captain’s cabin, Durgat repeatedly pummeled the door signal. He could hear the captain shouting, asking who disturbed him.
The captain unlocked and slid his door aside. He was shocked to see a highly perturbed governor standing there.
“There’s an unauthorized broadcast across all channels, Captain. I suggest you waste no time gaining the bridge and stopping it,” Durgat ordered.
The captain hesitated, unsure of whether to close his door or not, since the governor hadn’t moved. In the end, he left it open and dressed as quickly as he could.
The pair made the bridge, and the captain investigated the problem. Afterwards, he turned to Durgat, with an apologetic expression.
“I still hear it,” Durgat accused.
“There’s nothing we can do, Governor, except turn off our reception,” the captain replied. “It’s not originating from our ships, which we could shut down. It’s a broadcast from the opposing Toralian fleets. Each of those battleships is occupying a portion of our comm spectrum.”
“Can we
communicate to one another?” Durgat asked.
“The only line unaffected is the governor’s channel,” the captain replied.
“How convenient!” Durgat hissed. He calculated that Tortred had warned the other governors, and they were discovering the same thing he had. Left with no choice, he decided to return to his bar for more sleep.
In the morning, Durgat found the broadcast had lasted for a portion of first watch and then ceased. It was the same for second watch.
“What is the mood of your crew?” Somgut asked on the governors’ conference call after the broadcasts subsided.
“Restless,” Tratget replied.
“Exert your authority,” Tortred said defiantly. “My crew understands it’s my will that dictates their actions.”
“And is it that way across your fleet?” Tratget asked.
“I’m assured it is,” Tortred boasted.
“By whom … a commander and captains who are too frightened to speak the truth?” Somgut challenged.
“Calm yourselves,” Durgat said sternly. “Let the crews talk among themselves. The captains and their ship routines will maintain order.”
“And if the captains choose to side with crews who wish to revolt?” Somgut asked.
“I must return to my conversations with Sargut,” Durgat said abruptly, ending the call.
In actual fact, Sargut hadn’t answered Durgat’s recent broadcast, requesting they resume their talks.
On the third cycle, following the start of the broadcasts, third watch was on duty again. Tortred was woken by his cabin door’s signal.
“Governor, we have an emergency. Come quickly,” Tortred heard. It was his captain’s voice.
Dropping from his bar, Tortred dressed sufficiently to answer the door.
As the door slid aside, Tortred demanded angrily, “What is it?”
“It’s the crew, Governor,” the captain said, stepping across the threshold.
Tortred felt his nerves light up, as if they were on fire. His brain was overloaded by the sensation, and he slumped to the deck.
“Take him to lockup,” the captain ordered.
The first officer led the party of junior officers, who unceremoniously half-carried, half-dragged the governor down the corridor. The treatment was a testimony to the sentiments of the crew about their governor.
