by Francis, Ron
“The military is what keeps us in business,” Ariel reminded. “I understand there are a lot of planets that would buy our ships if our military contract was not renewed. There are also about a dozen corporations that have fleet privileges. But that would only keep us going for so long. Both planets and corporations have caps on the size of their fleets. Once we turn our backs on the military, we might not be able to get them back, especially if Admiral Natora is anywhere near the process.”
“Ariel has a valid point,” Serge agreed. "We could probably keep going for a good ten to fifteen years without the military. After that, there’s not a whole lot to do unless we come up with something even better than what we have. Let’s face it; we're going to need Jesse to make that happen.”
Manny looked around the room as he replied. “Even if they miss their window, or it doesn't come up, I wouldn't count him out. He’ll be doing everything in his power to get back to us and it wouldn’t surprise me if he has some nice new tech from the Kalephi Galaxy with him when he arrives.”
Nina shook her head and smiled, “Wouldn’t that just burn Natora up.”
“We can’t turn our back on him either, Nina,” Ariel added. “As Jason has so kindly reminded us, he’s already tried to have you killed once. I can’t imagine what he might do if he’s desperate. We also have to consider Earth. Earth’s defenses will be severely depleted if we leave with our mine field, our particle cannons and our factory defenses, not to mention Vee Fleet. If Earth has cut ties with us, they are not about to buy our ships for the EDF, which means they will have to bring in at least twelve to eighteen of theirs to fill the gap. The price of that alone will lose us the goodwill of many politicians.”
“We also have to keep in mind the president,” Serge interjected. “He went out of his way to give us the letter of confidence. It hurt him politically to do it, too. We can’t just say thanks and then pick up and leave. It will hurt his credibility, and he’s our biggest ally right now.”
“Don’t forget the jobs,” Manny reminded. “Even if many of our employees make the move, we’re still talking about tens of thousands that will be affected. Not to mention the ripple effect that will have. All of the restaurants near our facilities, the stores, and the power stations. We could be bankrupting a whole city if we up and leave. Even if we keep our med tech and entertainment tech facilities here, it will cause big economic problems. Local sports, entertainment, everything gets affected economically if we move.”
“I'm not saying we should move, I love Earth,” Jason began. “But if we decide to move, there's nothing anyone can do about it. We're within our rights to have Sea Side Enterprises wherever we would like.”
“You're right, Jason, but we do have to be diplomatic about it. Right now, the move works well as a threat to keep Natora in line,” Nina surmised. “But if we remain conscious of other factors like the president and the economy, we really have to come up with a plan that makes it seem like everyone is winning if we leave.”
“Natora doesn’t speak for the whole military.” Ariel interjected. “While he does have considerable weight, as soon as Admiral Bliney returns from the outer colonies, he will be splitting power. We definitely cannot turn our back on him, but he shouldn’t factor at all in the decision.”
“Good point, Ariel,” Nina conceded. “Our main two problems are political and economic, regardless of what the military decides. They are just as likely to retain us if we move from Earth because our ships are still better than anything they can produce. Let’s all take some time and try to come up with winning scenarios politically and economically, if we do follow through with the move. I’ll let you know when we’ll meet up back here. I don’t want to put it on the schedule just yet.”
As they were getting ready to leave, Manny turned to Serge and asked, “How are we doing with identifying the mystery explosion Endeavor encountered while entering the conduit? ” Ariel and Jason stopped to hear the answer while Nina came up beside Serge and waited to see if there were any new developments.
“Unfortunately, we've gone about as far as we can with the data we have. The only way we get any further is if Natora releases the vid and sensor readings from the Polisian Hope or the Winter's Edge.” Serge put his hands up in a gesture of surrender before anyone could comment.
“That's not likely to happen,” Ariel sadly mused. The rest agreed as they went back to their duties. They were all more than a little miffed at Natora's treatment of that whole incident, but it made sense if he was trying to get rid of them that he wouldn't help them find out what happened to Jesse.
With that, the meeting was adjourned. Ariel heard a quiet click as she exited the room. She had a sinking feeling that someone else had just heard their conversation. She wouldn't mention anything until she was sure, but it was one more thing for her to worry about.
______
Jesse had to move fast. He was up on his feet and he began to run. His muscles were still in spasm from the jolt and were not yet fully cooperating. He was still making decent time. He shook off the fall and the jolt then he hit his stride. He was moving full speed now. He only hoped it would be enough. It wouldn’t take the soldiers long to get to the area of the fence he made contact with. They were likely to check inside the speeder train depot first. He only hoped that would buy him enough time.
Jesse had run almost thirteen klicks and his lungs were burning. The fight in the city combined with the jolt and subsequent fall had taken a lot out of him. He noticed his shoulder was bleeding. His gash from the Pandaran had reopened. If he made it back to Endeavor, Suzy was likely to be upset with him. Even though there was nothing else he could have done, he had put himself in the line of fire again. He willed himself to continue running at top speed. The whine of the search vehicles were closing in. Apparently, they had figured out that he had jumped out of the train depot and not into it. They were now searching for him, and it sounded like a big search. He got on his comm to Endeavor while he was running.
“Collin, I hope you’re finished, because we are going to need to leave in five minutes.” He began in an out-of-breath voice. “Keep the ship cloaked and open the hatch on my mark. I want to be in the air before the hatch closes. I’m on foot and I’m likely coming in hot.”
“But I’m not quite finished,” Collin called out in frustration. “I need an hour.”
“Look, I’m sorry. It’s not ideal, but I may not even make it before these search vehicles catch me,” he replied apologetically. “We can head for the asteroid belt, turn on the portable shield generator to bolster our shield strength and finish there, but we definitely cannot remain here.”
“Understood,” Josiah replied. “And thanks for taking the heat off of us so we could bring Collin his new toy,” he added to remind Collin why Jesse was on the run out there.
Jesse could hear the vehicles getting closer, but he knew he was very close to Endeavor’s location. “Okay,” he called. “Open the hatch in three, two, one, mark.” The hatch began to open and he saw the light from inside the ship. He was about thirty meters away, and he poured on his last burst of speed. As the light from the landing bay lit up the area, blasterfire erupted all around him. Still, he kept running. He was five meters out when he called for the hatch to begin being raised. He took two more steps and dove into the landing bay. Enemy heavy weapons fire flew through the landing bay, slamming into the bulkhead as the hatch closed. Endeavor turned its lasers on the pursuers, taking out three vehicles as it flew towards the asteroid belt.
Jesse lay on the gralium plated deck of the landing bay, trying to catch his breath. He lay there for what seemed like a few minutes before Bessa and Suzy approached him.
“Jesse, can you hear me?” Suzy’s worried voice echoed in his ears. “Jesse, can you hear me?” She yelled again.
“Yeah, I'm fine,” he wheezed, still out of breath from the sprint. “That was close, I'm gonna need to rest a minute before I get up,” he added as he rested his head on the deck. H
e noticed Suzy and Bessa staring down at him, concern etched on their faces. “Suzy, I'm fine, really. I'm just tired from the run.”
Suzy looked at him and said “Jess, just lie still for a minute, let me check you out.” She ran the portable diagnostic device over his body and then gently turned him over. She took his battle suit jacket off and ran the device again.
“You opened up your shoulder again, but luckily, you have no new injuries. Let's get you to a more comfortable place to rest.”
Suzy and Bessa let him catch his breath and then helped him up. He slowly began to make his way to the common room to rest for a while on one of the couches. After a drink, he fell asleep pretty quickly.
______
“Endeavor hasss just left Zenith, Mighty Garrinorasss,” Captain Blade reported. “We believe she flew into an asteroid field to finish repairsss to their light drive. Admiral Greyside doesss not think they will survive, but we will remain at the edge of the field waiting for them. He is almost in our grasp.”
“Very good, Captain Blade,” Garrinoras began. “Do not let him escape. He is to be brought before me to answer for his crimes. I wish to kill him personally.” He ended the transmission, relishing the upcoming death of Colonel Jesse Marcos. The human had made a fool out of him and ruined all of his plans. That could not be allowed to stand.
Chapter Three:
______
Jesse woke up an hour later in the common room. He didn't even remember falling asleep. He opened his eyes and Bessa was sitting by his side holding his hand. “Bessa?” He asked drowsily.
“He’s awake,” she called down to Suzy in med-bay as she was fussing over Reece.
“What’s going on? What happened?” He was so confused. One minute I was diving into the landing bay, and the next I am laying here.
“You were slightly electrocuted after being in a fight, and then you ran fifteen klicks at close to full speed.” Suzy began. “Apparently, you also took a fall somewhere along the way. I just think your body needed some rest. I re-stitched your shoulder and your back could probably use an adjustment, too. I’ll do that later or tomorrow.” She smiled as she brought Jesse some water. “You did it again, you know?”
Jesse puzzled a look, “Did what again?”
“You took the hit for someone else,” she explained. “I know you gave yourself up so Josiah and Kimi could get away with the light drive.”
He smiled tiredly. “It had to be done, I’m sorry. I know you hate when it’s me, but there was nothing else that could be done. Josiah was already in the process of paying. If he left then, it would have been highly suspicious, and the pirates would have followed Josiah and Kimi. It had to be me.” Jesse noticed Bessa was still holding his hand and rubbing it. It actually felt quite good, and it apparently had a calming effect.
“I know it had to be you this time, Jesse, and I’m not going to yell at you,” she replied. “Just please be careful.”
“I’ll try,” he said as he lay his head back down. He looked up at Bessa and added. “You know you don’t have to do that, not that I’m complaining. How come you’re not hanging out with Collin? You know, helping him fix the light drive and laughing under the console in engineering.”
Bessa smiled shyly as she looked away. “I do very much enjoy Collin’s company.” She began. “But you are my hero. You freed me and you saved me from the Pandaran. If you need me I am compelled to be here for you.”
“Bessa, I really appreciate it, and it feels great,” Jesse began. “Do you know what would make me feel even better, though?”
“What,” Bessa asked tentatively.
“Seeing you happy,” Jesse answered. “Doing what you want to do, finding out what you like to do, not doing what you think is expected of you. If you want to hang out here with us, it's fine. If you would like to hang out with Collin or Kimi, that's fine, too. If you wish to spend some time alone, it's all good; as long as you are doing what you want to do.”
“Yeah,” Josiah added with a smile. “It's Suzy's job to fuss over Jesse anyway, so she's got it covered.”
Suzy laughed. “Alright you two, leave our guest alone. She is just trying to be nice.”
“And it is greatly appreciated.” Jesse added brightly. “It really does feel good.”
“Thank you, both,” Bessa replied as she stood to leave. “I think I will go find Collin.” She smiled as she left the room. She never thought she would be given the opportunity to decide who she wanted to spend her time with. It was an odd feeling, but actually quite liberating. She was starting to understand that she could make her own choices. Instead of being upset with her, her new friends were actually encouraging her.
______
Collin didn’t like this at all. Endeavor was hiding in an asteroid field. They could not come out until the FTL drive was completely repaired. Collin and Josiah were working as fast as they could. They only had about twenty-five minutes left, but Endeavor’s shields were taking a beating. Jesse had a great idea to bolster the ship’s shields with the portable shield generator. The portable was meant to defend a town or compound and would last indefinitely against even heavy weaponry as long as it had power. Right now, the portable shield generator was almost out of power, and Endeavor’s shields were at about eighty percent. That wouldn’t be bad if there were not a dozen ships waiting to destroy Endeavor the minute she left the asteroid field. If they had to pump much more power to the shields, they wouldn’t be able to cloak on the way out. Collin wished Jesse hadn’t gotten them into this mess, although both times he had been spotted it was to bring something important back to Endeavor. The first time was for Bessa, and Collin would take this situation anytime for her. The second time was to bring the new light drive which Collin couldn’t wait to study. If they survived long enough, that is.
____
Colonel Jaketh was waiting right outside the asteroid field with a Conglomerate Battle Group consisting of the destroyer Absolution, two heavy cruisers, two frigates and four gunships. Also present were Captain Blade’s three pirate vessels headlined by the Dominator. Twelve capital ships; Collin knew that on her best day Endeavor couldn’t defeat that many. Even if Endeavor survived the asteroids, the outcome looked grim. Josiah had managed to time it just right to change out the power source of the portable shield generator. Endeavor could now last easily another two hours. She would only need about ten minutes of that time though. Jesse had come down from the bridge to set up a way to tie the portable shield generator into the ships main shields. If it worked, Endeavor just might survive.
“Incoming transmission from the Absolution,” SAMMI announced in her soothing voice. “On screen in the landing bay SAMMI,” Josiah replied as he walked out of engineering.
“Colonel Marcos,” Colonel Jaketh began.
“He’s not currently available,” Josiah replied.
“To whom am I speaking, then?” Jaketh asked in an annoyed tone.
“Lieutenant Josiah Jackson, what can I do for you, Colonel?” Josiah asked.
“You can surrender. End this foolish standoff now. Or you may go find your commanding officer and get him to end it,” Jaketh ordered.
“Well, you obviously don’t know Colonel Marcos,” Josiah taunted. “He would much rather die in an asteroid field than surrender to the likes of you.”
“Where is your commanding officer, Lieutenant?” Jaketh howled.
“Escaping your men made him hungry, he's probably eating a sandwich.” He smiled, knowing both his explanation and his attitude would infuriate this Colonel Jaketh. It wasn't like he could tell him what Jesse was really doing. “Colonel Marcos,” he continued, “is notoriously hard to capture or kill. But I bet your partner Garrinoras would not be pleased if you did kill him. I’m pretty sure he wants to do that himself.”
“I care nothing of what that pirate wants or needs.” Jaketh responded with anger dripping from his voice. “Colonel Marcos has assaulted four of my officers, and he will pay.”
“He
also made you look like a fool getting away from how many men? I’m sure that has no bearing on the situation for a professional such as yourself, though,” Josiah mocked.
“I will kill you right after I am done with your pathetic Colonel,” he threatened.
Josiah laughed as he replied. “If I had a chron for every time some two-bit thug like you said that about Jesse, I’d be the richest man in the Kalephi Galaxy.” Josiah cut the transmission and headed back towards engineering.
“Incoming transmission,” SAMMI informed.
“Who is it this time?” Josiah asked wearily.
“It is the Absolution again, Lieutenant Jackson.” SAMMI replied.
“Ignore all transmissions from the Absolution and the Dominator until further notice, SAMMI.” Josiah instructed as he met Collin back in engineering.
______
Captain Blade did not like this Conglomerate Colonel Jaketh. He felt Jaketh was not only incompetent, but would betray them at his earliest convenience. Men like Jaketh were one of the reason’s he hated humans. That, and the smell. Humans were arrogant, and they really had no reason to be. In his opinion, they were vastly inferior to most of the species in the Kalephi Galaxy, yet they have been able to basically control three full sectors. Even in the Lawless Sector, five of the twelve most powerful planets were human worlds. As soon as Garrinoras gets his fleet back, that will change, he thought.
He was interested to see how these next few minutes would play out. Would Endeavor surrender? Would Jaketh betray them? Would the Dominator be able to destroy the Absolution quickly enough to escape with their lives if Jaketh did betray them? All of these questions would be answered soon. All they needed was for Endeavor to exit the asteroid field.
